Focused Passage

Proverbs 8:1-11

Wisdom's Public Call: Righteous Speech, Royal Counsel, and the Joy of Creation

The chapter moves from Wisdom's public summons, to the integrity of her speech, to her moral and royal counsel, to her place in creation's ordering, to a final appeal that listening to Wisdom means life.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.

6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.

9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Does not הֲלֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle wisdom חָכְמָ֥ה H2451 Noun - feminine singular call out תִקְרָ֑א H7121 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular and understanding וּ֝תְבוּנָ֗ה H8394 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular raise תִּתֵּ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular her voice קוֹלָֽהּ׃ H6963 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 2

Original words

On the heights בְּרֹאשׁ־ H7218 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . מְרוֹמִ֥ים H4791 Noun - masculine plural overlooking עֲלֵי־ H5921 Preposition the road דָ֑רֶךְ H1870 Noun - common singular at the crossroads בֵּ֖ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . נְתִיב֣וֹת H5410 Noun - feminine plural she takes her stand נִצָּֽבָה׃ H5324 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

Beside לְיַד־ H3027 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct the gates שְׁעָרִ֥ים H8179 Noun - masculine plural to לְפִי־ H6310 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct the city קָ֑רֶת H7176 Noun - feminine singular at the entrances מְב֖וֹא H3996 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . פְתָחִ֣ים H6607 Noun - masculine plural she cries out תָּרֹֽנָּה׃ H7442 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Verse 4

Original words

To you אֲלֵיכֶ֣ם H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural O men אִישִׁ֣ים H376 Noun - masculine plural I call out אֶקְרָ֑א H7121 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular and my cry וְ֝קוֹלִ֗י H6963 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular is to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the sons בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of men אָדָֽם׃ H120 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

O simple ones פְתָאיִ֣ם H6612 Noun - masculine plural learn הָבִ֣ינוּ H995 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural to be shrewd עָרְמָ֑ה H6195 Noun - feminine singular O fools וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים H3684 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural gain understanding הָבִ֥ינוּ H995 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural . . . לֵֽב׃ H3820 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or instruct your minds
Verse 6

Original words

Listen שִׁ֭מְעוּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction I speak אֲדַבֵּ֑ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular of noble things נְגִידִ֣ים H5057 Noun - masculine plural and the opening וּמִפְתַּ֥ח H4669 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of my lips שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י H8193 Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular [will reveal] right מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ H4339 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 7

Original words

For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction my mouth חִכִּ֑י H2441 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will speak יֶהְגֶּ֣ה H1897 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the truth אֱ֭מֶת H571 Noun - feminine singular and wickedness רֶֽשַׁע׃ H7562 Noun - masculine singular is detestable וְתוֹעֲבַ֖ת H8441 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct to my lips שְׂפָתַ֣י H8193 Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular
Verse 8

Original words

All כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the words אִמְרֵי־ H561 Noun - masculine plural construct of my mouth פִ֑י H6310 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular are righteous בְּצֶ֥דֶק H6664 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular none אֵ֥ין H369 Adverb are crooked נִפְתָּ֥ל H6617 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular or perverse וְעִקֵּֽשׁ׃ H6141 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

They [are] כֻּלָּ֣ם H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural all plain נְ֭כֹחִים H5228 Adjective - masculine plural to the discerning לַמֵּבִ֑ין H995 Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular and upright וִֽ֝ישָׁרִ֗ים H3477 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural to those who find לְמֹ֣צְאֵי H4672 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct knowledge דָֽעַת׃ H1847 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Receive קְחֽוּ־ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural my instruction מוּסָרִ֥י H4148 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular instead of וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb silver כָּ֑סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular and knowledge וְ֝דַ֗עַת H1847 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular rather than pure נִבְחָֽר׃ H977 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular gold מֵחָר֥וּץ H2742 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction wisdom חָ֭כְמָה H2451 Noun - feminine singular is more precious טוֹבָ֣ה H2896 Adjective - feminine singular than rubies מִפְּנִינִ֑ים H6443 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural and nothing וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle you desire חֲ֝פָצִ֗ים H2656 Noun - masculine plural compares יִֽשְׁווּ־ H7737 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural with her בָֽהּ׃ Preposition | third person feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.