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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Cross-references

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

Original words

I אֲ‍ֽנִי־ H589 Pronoun - first person common singular wisdom חָ֭כְמָה H2451 Noun - feminine singular dwell together שָׁכַ֣נְתִּי H7931 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular with prudence עָרְמָ֑ה H6195 Noun - feminine singular and I find אֶמְצָֽא׃ H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular knowledge וְדַ֖עַת H1847 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct and discretion מְזִמּ֣וֹת H4209 Noun - feminine plural

Verse 13

Cross-references

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

Original words

To fear יִֽרְאַ֣ת H3374 Noun - feminine singular construct the LORD יְהוָה֮ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is to hate שְֽׂנֹ֫את H8130 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct evil רָ֥ע H7451 Adjective - masculine singular I hate שָׂנֵֽאתִי׃ H8130 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular arrogant וְגָא֨וֹן׀ H1347 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular pride גֵּ֘אָ֤ה H1344 Noun - feminine singular evil רָ֭ע H7451 Adjective - masculine singular conduct וְדֶ֣רֶךְ H1870 Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular and perverse תַהְפֻּכ֬וֹת H8419 Noun - feminine plural speech וּפִ֨י H6310 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct

Verse 14

Cross-references

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

Original words

Counsel עֵ֭צָה H6098 Noun - feminine singular and sound judgment וְתוּשִׁיָּ֑ה H8454 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular are mine לִֽי־ Preposition | first person common singular I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular have insight בִ֝ינָ֗ה H998 Noun - feminine singular and strength גְבוּרָֽה׃ H1369 Noun - feminine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

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

Original words

By me בִּ֭י Preposition | first person common singular kings מְלָכִ֣ים H4428 Noun - masculine plural reign יִמְלֹ֑כוּ H4427 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and rulers וְ֝רוֹזְנִ֗ים H7336 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural enact just צֶֽדֶק׃ H6664 Noun - masculine singular laws יְחֹ֣קְקוּ H2710 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

Verse 16

Original words

By me בִּ֭י Preposition | first person common singular princes שָׂרִ֣ים H8269 Noun - masculine plural rule יָשֹׂ֑רוּ H8323 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct nobles וּ֝נְדִיבִ֗ים H5081 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural who govern שֹׁ֥פְטֵי H8199 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct justly צֶֽדֶק׃ H6664 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

Some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX who govern the earth

Verse 17

Cross-references

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

Original words

I אֲ֭נִי H589 Pronoun - first person common singular love אֹהֲבֶיהָ H157 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular those who love me אֵהָ֑ב H157 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular and those who seek me early וּ֝מְשַׁחֲרַ֗י H7836 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular shall find me יִמְצָאֻֽנְנִי׃ H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular, Paragogic nun

Verse 18

Cross-references

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

Original words

With me אִתִּ֑י H854 Preposition | first person common singular are riches עֹֽשֶׁר־ H6239 Noun - masculine singular and honor וְכָב֥וֹד H3519 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular enduring עָ֝תֵ֗ק H6276 Adjective - masculine singular wealth ה֥וֹן H1952 Noun - masculine singular and righteousness וּצְדָקָֽה׃ H6666 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

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

Original words

My fruit פִּ֭רְיִי H6529 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular is better ט֣וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular than gold מֵחָר֣וּץ H2742 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular pure gold וּמִפָּ֑ז H6337 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular and my harvest וּ֝תְבוּאָתִ֗י H8393 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular [surpasses] choice נִבְחָֽר׃ H977 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular silver מִכֶּ֥סֶף H3701 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

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

Original words

I walk אֲהַלֵּ֑ך H1980 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular in the way בְּאֹֽרַח־ H734 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct of righteousness צְדָקָ֥ה H6666 Noun - feminine singular along בְּ֝ת֗וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the paths נְתִיב֥וֹת H5410 Noun - feminine plural construct of justice מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ H4941 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

bestowing לְהַנְחִ֖יל H5157 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct wealth יֵ֑שׁ H3426 Adverb on those who love me אֹהֲבַ֥י׀ H157 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular and making אֲמַלֵּֽא׃פ H4390 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular their treasuries {full} וְאֹצְרֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם H214 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

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