| Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Wisdom is calling! Understanding is raising her voice!
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1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
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2 On the heights along the road, where the paths meet, she is standing;
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2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
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3 by the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
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3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
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4 "People, I am calling you, raising my voice to all mankind.
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4 "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
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5 You who don't direct your lives, understand caution; as for you, you fools, get some common sense!
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5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.
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6 "Listen! I will say worthwhile things; when I speak, my words are right.
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6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
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7 My mouth says what is true, because my lips detest evil.
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7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
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8 All the words from my mouth are righteous; nothing false or crooked is in them.
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8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
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9 They are all clear to those who understand and straightforward to those who gain knowledge.
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9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
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10 Receive my instruction, rather than silver; knowledge, rather than the finest gold.
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10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
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11 For wisdom is better than pearls; nothing you want can compare with her.
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11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
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12 "I, wisdom, live together with caution; I attain knowledge and discretion.
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12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
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13 The fear of ADONAI is hatred of evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and duplicitous speech.
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13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
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14 Good advice is mine, and common sense; I am insight, power is mine.
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14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
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15 By me kings reign, and princes make just laws.
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15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;
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16 By me princes govern, nobles too, and all the earth's rulers.
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16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.
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17 I love those who love me; and those who seek me will find me.
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17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
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18 Riches and honor are with me, lasting wealth and righteousness.
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18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
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19 My fruit is better than gold, fine gold, my produce better than the finest silver.
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19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
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20 I follow the course of righteousness along the paths of justice,
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20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
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21 to endow with wealth those who love me and fill their treasuries.
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21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
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22 "ADONAI made me as the beginning of his way, the first of his ancient works.
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22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
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23 I was appointed before the world, before the start, before the earth's beginnings.
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23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
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24 When I was brought forth, there were no ocean depths, no springs brimming with water.
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24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
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25 I was brought forth before the hills, before the mountains had settled in place;
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25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
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26 he had not yet made the earth, the fields, or even the earth's first grains of dust.
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26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
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27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he drew the horizon's circle on the deep,
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27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
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28 when he set the skies above in place, when the fountains of the deep poured forth,
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28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
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29 when he prescribed boundaries for the sea, so that its water would not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
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29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
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30 I was with him as someone he could trust. For me, every day was pure delight, as I played in his presence all the time,.
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30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
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31 playing everywhere on his earth, and delighting to be with humankind.
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31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
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32 "Therefore, children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.
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32 "Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
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33 Hear instruction, and grow wise; do not refuse it.
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33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
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34 How happy the person who listens to me, who watches daily at my gates and waits outside my doors.
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34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
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35 For he who finds me finds life and obtains the favor of ADONAI.
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35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
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36 But he who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
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36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
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| Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (The Complete Jewish Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
