Focused Passage

Proverbs 8:12-21

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

12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

15By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;

16By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Cross-references

Isaiah 28:26Classic cross-references Exodus 35:30Classic cross-references Exodus 31:3Classic cross-references Proverbs 1:4Classic cross-references Romans 11:33Classic cross-references

Original words

Iאֲ‍ֽנִי־H589Pronoun - first person common singularwisdomחָ֭כְמָהH2451Noun - feminine singulardwell togetherשָׁכַ֣נְתִּיH7931Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularwith prudenceעָרְמָ֑הH6195Noun - feminine singularand I findאֶמְצָֽא׃H4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularknowledgeוְדַ֖עַתH1847Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular constructand discretionמְזִמּ֣וֹתH4209Noun - feminine plural

Verse 13

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 7:1Classic cross-references Proverbs 31:30Classic cross-references Psalms 97:10Classic cross-references Proverbs 16:6Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 2:3Classic cross-references

Original words

To fearיִֽרְאַ֣תH3374Noun - feminine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָה֮H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularis to hateשְֽׂנֹ֫אתH8130Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructevilרָ֥עH7451Adjective - masculine singularI hateשָׂנֵֽאתִי׃H8130Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singulararrogantוְגָא֨וֹן׀H1347Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularprideגֵּ֘אָ֤הH1344Noun - feminine singularevilרָ֭עH7451Adjective - masculine singularconductוְדֶ֣רֶךְH1870Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singularand perverseתַהְפֻּכ֬וֹתH8419Noun - feminine pluralspeechוּפִ֨יH6310Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct

Verse 14

Cross-references

2 Timothy 1:7Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 7:19Classic cross-references Isaiah 9:6Classic cross-references Proverbs 24:5Classic cross-references Psalms 16:7Classic cross-references

Original words

Counselעֵ֭צָהH6098Noun - feminine singularand sound judgmentוְתוּשִׁיָּ֑הH8454Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularare mineלִֽי־Preposition | first person common singularIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularhave insightבִ֝ינָ֗הH998Noun - feminine singularand strengthגְבוּרָֽה׃H1369Noun - feminine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Romans 13:1Classic cross-references Daniel 2:21Classic cross-references Revelation 1:5Classic cross-references Matthew 28:18Classic cross-references 1 Timothy 6:15Classic cross-references

Original words

By meבִּ֭יPreposition | first person common singularkingsמְלָכִ֣יםH4428Noun - masculine pluralreignיִמְלֹ֑כוּH4427Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland rulersוְ֝רוֹזְנִ֗יםH7336Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralenact justצֶֽדֶק׃H6664Noun - masculine singularlawsיְחֹ֣קְקוּH2710Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Verse 16

Original words

By meבִּ֭יPreposition | first person common singularprincesשָׂרִ֣יםH8269Noun - masculine pluralruleיָשֹׂ֑רוּH8323Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructnoblesוּ֝נְדִיבִ֗יםH5081Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine pluralwho governשֹׁ֥פְטֵיH8199Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructjustlyצֶֽדֶק׃H6664Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX who govern the earth

Verse 17

Cross-references

Hebrews 11:6Classic cross-references Matthew 7:7Classic cross-references John 14:23Classic cross-references John 14:21Classic cross-references Psalms 91:14Classic cross-references

Original words

Iאֲ֭נִיH589Pronoun - first person common singularloveאֹהֲבֶיהָH157Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularthose who love meאֵהָ֑בH157Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularand those who seek me earlyוּ֝מְשַׁחֲרַ֗יH7836Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularshall find meיִמְצָאֻֽנְנִי׃H4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular, Paragogic nun

Verse 18

Cross-references

1 Timothy 6:6Classic cross-references Psalms 35:27Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 6:14Classic cross-references Proverbs 2:4Classic cross-references Proverbs 3:16Classic cross-references

Original words

With meאִתִּ֑יH854Preposition | first person common singularare richesעֹֽשֶׁר־H6239Noun - masculine singularand honorוְכָב֥וֹדH3519Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularenduringעָ֝תֵ֗קH6276Adjective - masculine singularwealthה֥וֹןH1952Noun - masculine singularand righteousnessוּצְדָקָֽה׃H6666Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Proverbs 16:16Classic cross-references Proverbs 3:14Classic cross-references Psalms 119:72Classic cross-references Proverbs 10:20Classic cross-references Psalms 19:10Classic cross-references

Original words

My fruitפִּ֭רְיִיH6529Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularis betterט֣וֹבH2896Adjective - masculine singularthan goldמֵחָר֣וּץH2742Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularpure goldוּמִפָּ֑זH6337Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularand my harvestוּ֝תְבוּאָתִ֗יH8393Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular[surpasses] choiceנִבְחָֽר׃H977Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularsilverמִכֶּ֥סֶףH3701Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Psalms 23:3Classic cross-references Matthew 7:14Classic cross-references Romans 8:14Classic cross-references Psalms 25:4Classic cross-references Joshua 1:7Classic cross-references

Original words

I walkאֲהַלֵּ֑ךH1980Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularin the wayבְּאֹֽרַח־H734Preposition-b | Noun - common singular constructof righteousnessצְדָקָ֥הH6666Noun - feminine singularalongבְּ֝ת֗וֹךְH8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe pathsנְתִיב֥וֹתH5410Noun - feminine plural constructof justiceמִשְׁפָּֽט׃H4941Noun - masculine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

Proverbs 15:6Classic cross-references John 17:24Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:4Classic cross-references Proverbs 24:4Classic cross-references Genesis 15:14Classic cross-references

Original words

bestowingלְהַנְחִ֖ילH5157Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructwealthיֵ֑שׁH3426Adverbon those who love meאֹהֲבַ֥י׀H157Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularand makingאֲמַלֵּֽא׃פH4390Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singulartheir treasuries {full}וְאֹצְרֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣םH214Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

Read full chapter context All Proverbs chapters

<- Proverbs 7 Proverbs 8 Proverbs 9 ->