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

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

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

3Beside 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Does notהֲלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlewisdomחָכְמָ֥הH2451Noun - feminine singularcall outתִקְרָ֑אH7121Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularand understandingוּ֝תְבוּנָ֗הH8394Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularraiseתִּתֵּ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularher voiceקוֹלָֽהּ׃H6963Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 2

Original words

On the heightsבְּרֹאשׁ־H7218Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .מְרוֹמִ֥יםH4791Noun - masculine pluraloverlookingעֲלֵי־H5921Prepositionthe roadדָ֑רֶךְH1870Noun - common singularat the crossroadsבֵּ֖יתH1004Noun - masculine singular construct. . .נְתִיב֣וֹתH5410Noun - feminine pluralshe takes her standנִצָּֽבָה׃H5324Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

Besideלְיַד־H3027Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructthe gatesשְׁעָרִ֥יםH8179Noun - masculine pluraltoלְפִי־H6310Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe cityקָ֑רֶתH7176Noun - feminine singularat the entrancesמְב֖וֹאH3996Noun - masculine singular construct. . .פְתָחִ֣יםH6607Noun - masculine pluralshe cries outתָּרֹֽנָּה׃H7442Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Verse 4

Original words

To youאֲלֵיכֶ֣םH413Preposition | second person masculine pluralO menאִישִׁ֣יםH376Noun - masculine pluralI call outאֶקְרָ֑אH7121Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularand my cryוְ֝קוֹלִ֗יH6963Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularis toאֶל־H413Prepositionthe sonsבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof menאָדָֽם׃H120Noun - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

O simple onesפְתָאיִ֣םH6612Noun - masculine plurallearnהָבִ֣ינוּH995Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralto be shrewdעָרְמָ֑הH6195Noun - feminine singularO foolsוּ֝כְסִילִ֗יםH3684Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralgain understandingהָבִ֥ינוּH995Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural. . .לֵֽב׃H3820Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or instruct your minds
Verse 6

Original words

Listenשִׁ֭מְעוּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralforכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionI speakאֲדַבֵּ֑רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularof noble thingsנְגִידִ֣יםH5057Noun - masculine pluraland the openingוּמִפְתַּ֥חH4669Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof my lipsשְׂ֝פָתַ֗יH8193Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular[will reveal] rightמֵישָׁרִֽים׃H4339Noun - masculine plural
Verse 7

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionmy mouthחִכִּ֑יH2441Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwill speakיֶהְגֶּ֣הH1897Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe truthאֱ֭מֶתH571Noun - feminine singularand wickednessרֶֽשַׁע׃H7562Noun - masculine singularis detestableוְתוֹעֲבַ֖תH8441Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular constructto my lipsשְׂפָתַ֣יH8193Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular
Verse 8

Original words

Allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe wordsאִמְרֵי־H561Noun - masculine plural constructof my mouthפִ֑יH6310Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularare righteousבְּצֶ֥דֶקH6664Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularnoneאֵ֥יןH369Adverbare crookedנִפְתָּ֥לH6617Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularor perverseוְעִקֵּֽשׁ׃H6141Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

They [are]כֻּלָּ֣םH3605Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralall plainנְ֭כֹחִיםH5228Adjective - masculine pluralto the discerningלַמֵּבִ֑יןH995Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularand uprightוִֽ֝ישָׁרִ֗יםH3477Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine pluralto those who findלְמֹ֣צְאֵיH4672Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructknowledgeדָֽעַת׃H1847Noun - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Receiveקְחֽוּ־H3947Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralmy instructionמוּסָרִ֥יH4148Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularinstead ofוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbsilverכָּ֑סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singularand knowledgeוְ֝דַ֗עַתH1847Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularrather than pureנִבְחָֽר׃H977Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singulargoldמֵחָר֥וּץH2742Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionwisdomחָ֭כְמָהH2451Noun - feminine singularis more preciousטוֹבָ֣הH2896Adjective - feminine singularthan rubiesמִפְּנִינִ֑יםH6443Preposition-m | Noun - feminine pluraland nothingוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .לֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleyou desireחֲ֝פָצִ֗יםH2656Noun - masculine pluralcomparesיִֽשְׁווּ־H7737Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralwith herבָֽהּ׃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.