Proverbs 8:1–7
1 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
and detest every kind of deception.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — The New International Version (NIV)
1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — English Standard Version (ESV)
1 Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
1 Doth not wisdom cry?
And understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way
In the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the coming in at the doors.
4 Unto you, O men, I call;
And my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom:
And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;
And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — New Century Version (NCV)
1 Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting;
understanding raises her voice.
2 On the hilltops along the road
and at the crossroads, she stands calling.
3 Beside the city gates,
at the entrances into the city, she calls out:
4 “Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you;
I am shouting to all people.
5 You who are uneducated, seek wisdom.
You who are foolish, get understanding.
6 Listen, because I have important things to say,
and what I tell you is right.
7 What I say is true,
I refuse to speak evil.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — American Standard Version (ASV)
1 Doth not wisdom cry,
And understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way,
Where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 Unto you, O men, I call;
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence;
And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things;
And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice? 2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand. 3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud. 4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man: 5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense. 6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise its voice?
2 ⸤Wisdom⸥ takes its stand on high ground,
by the wayside where the roads meet,
3 near the gates to the city.
At the entrance ⸤wisdom⸥ sings its song,
4 “I am calling to all of you,
and my appeal is to all people.
5 You gullible people, learn how to be sensible.
You fools, get a heart that has understanding.
6 Listen! I am speaking about noble things,
and my lips will say what is right.
7 My mouth expresses the truth,
and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 Doesn’t Wisdom call out?
Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?
2 At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
3 Beside the gates at the entry to the city,
at the main entrance, she cries out:
4 “People, I call out to you;
my cry is to mankind.
5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.
7 For my mouth tells the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
4 “To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right;
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
1 Does not wisdom call,
and understanding raise its voice?
2 Atop the heights beside the road,
at the crossroads she stands.
3 Beside gates, before towns,
at the entrance of doors, she cries out:
4 “To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to the children of humankind.
5 Learn prudence, O simple ones;
fools, learn intelligence.
6 Listen! For noble things I will speak,
and upright things from the opening of my lips.
7 My mouth will utter truth,
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
1 Doesn’t wisdom call out?
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 On the high roads along the way,
she takes her place where the paths meet.
3 Beside the gates leading into the city,
she cries out at the entrances.
4 She says, “Men, I call out to you.
I raise my voice to all human beings.
5 You who are childish, get some good sense.
You who are foolish, gain understanding.
6 Listen! I have worthy things to say.
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true.
My lips hate evil.
Proverbs 8:1–7 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
1 Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 “O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand wisdom.
6 “Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7 “For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.