Proverbs 8

²Wisdom stands at the very top of the hill where everyone can see her, right beside the roads where people walk.

³Wisdom calls out at the city gates — at the front doors, at every entrance. She wants everyone who comes and goes to hear her!

⁴Wisdom says: 'I am calling to you! My voice is for every person — every man, woman, and child on earth.'

⁵Wisdom says: 'Even if you feel like you do not know much — you can understand! Even if you have made foolish choices — your heart can still learn.'

⁶Wisdom says: 'Listen closely! I am going to share excellent, wonderful things with you. Every word I speak is right and true.'

⁷Wisdom says: 'I only speak truth. Wicked words are awful to me — I will not let them out of my mouth!'

⁸Every word that wisdom speaks is right and good. There is nothing twisted or harmful in what she says.

⁹When you have understanding, wisdom's words become clear and easy to see. The more you grow in knowledge, the more right they feel!

¹⁰Choose wisdom's teaching over silver coins! Choose knowledge rather than the finest gold. Wisdom is worth far more!

¹¹God's wisdom is worth more than the most precious ruby. Nothing you could ever want is as valuable as wisdom!

¹²Wisdom says: 'I live alongside good thinking and careful planning. I help people discover knowledge and clever, wonderful ideas!'

¹³Fearing God — loving and respecting Him — means turning away from evil. Wisdom hates pride, arrogance, doing wrong, and speaking harmful words.

¹⁴Wisdom says: 'Good advice belongs to me! So does sound thinking, understanding, and true strength. I have all of these for you!'

¹⁵Wisdom says: 'Kings rule well because of me! Leaders are only fair and just when they use my wisdom.'

¹⁶Through wisdom, all kinds of rulers and judges make good decisions. Wisdom guides every fair choice anywhere in the world.

¹⁷Wisdom says: 'I love those who love me! And the ones who look for me — who seek me early and eagerly — will always find me!'

¹⁸Wisdom brings real riches and honour — not the kind that disappears, but lasting treasure and righteous living.

¹⁹What wisdom produces — her fruit — is better than the finest gold or silver. The reward of living wisely is worth more than any treasure!

²⁰Wisdom leads the way along the path of righteousness — right down the middle of the road of good and fair judgment.

²¹Wisdom says: 'I want to give real, lasting goodness to those who love me — I want to fill their lives with treasure!'

²²Before God made anything, He already had wisdom! Wisdom was the very first thing — right at the beginning of all God's wonderful work.

²³Wisdom says: 'I was here from the very beginning — from forever! Before the earth was ever made, I was already there with God.'

²⁴Even before there were oceans or springs of water, wisdom was already there — already alive and present with God!

²⁵Before the mountains were pushed up from the ground, before the hills were formed — wisdom was already there!

²⁶Before God made the earth, the fields, or even the smallest speck of dust — wisdom was already with Him!

²⁷When God stretched out the sky and set the boundaries of the deep waters — wisdom was right there watching it all happen!

²⁸When God set the clouds in the sky and made the underground springs strong and deep — wisdom was right there beside Him!

²⁹When God told the sea: 'You will not go past this boundary!' — and when He set the foundations of the earth in place — wisdom was there!

³⁰Wisdom says: 'I was right beside God like a beloved child — and every single day I was His delight! I was always rejoicing before Him!'

³¹Wisdom was rejoicing over the whole beautiful earth — and she says: 'My greatest delight was in the people God made!' Wisdom loves people!

³²Wisdom says: 'Now listen to me, children! Those who walk in my ways are truly blessed and happy!'

³³Hear wisdom's teaching and become wise — please do not push it away! The teaching is a gift, not a burden.

³⁴So blessed is the person who listens to wisdom — who shows up at her door every single day, waiting and watching for her!

³⁵Whoever finds wisdom finds real life! And they also receive the wonderful favour and blessing of God Himself.

³⁶But the person who rejects wisdom hurts themselves most of all. Those who hate wisdom are choosing the wrong path — a path that leads away from life.