proverbs 8

Read Proverbs 8 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Pro 8:1-31 {p} The excellency of wisdom, calling to the sons of men
Pro 8:32-9:18 {s} Wisdom and folly alike call out to the simple, to choose life or death

Pro 8:5-36 reverse parallelism:

1a) Pro 8:5-21, The excellence of wisdom: I love those who love me + those who seek me diligently find me;

1a.1) Pro 8:5-9a, Wisdom speaks that which is true + right, nothing crooked or perverse;

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;
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them;
9a They are all plain to him who understands;

1a.2) Pro 8:9b, Wisdom’s words are right to those who find knowledge;
1a.3) Pro 8:10-11, Wisdom better than silver, gold, rubies;

1b) Pro 8:12, I, wisdom, dwell with prudence and find out knowledge + discretion;
1c) Pro 8:13a {n} The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;

2c) Pro 8:13b, Pride + arrogance + the evil way + the perverse mouth I hate;
2b) Pro 8:14, Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength;

2a.1) Pro 8:15-16, By me kings reign + rulers decree justice/ princes + nobles + all judges of the earth;
2a.2) Pro 8:17, I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me;
2a.3) Pro 8:18-21, Riches + honor with wisdom/ her fruit better than gold + silver;

18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness;
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver;
20 I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries;

1b) Pro 8:22-23, The LORD possessed + established wisdom from everlasting/ before His created works;

1c) Pro 8:24-26, Before there were depths or earth, I was brought forth;

1a) Pro 8:24a, When there were no depths;
1b) Pro 8:24b, I was brought forth;
1c) Pro 8:24c, When there were no fountains abounding with water;
2c) Pro 8:25a, Before the mountains were settled, before the hills;
2b) Pro 8:25b, I was brought forth;
2a) Pro 8:26, While as yet He had not made the earth + fields + primal dust of the world;

2c) Pro 8:27-30a, When the LORD established heavens + depths + earth, I was there;

1a) Pro 8:27a, When He prepared the heavens, I was there;
1b) Pro 8:27b, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep;
1c) Pro 8:28, When He established the clouds above + strengthened the fountains of the deep;
2c) Pro 8:29a, When He assigned to the sea its limit so that it would not transgress His command;
2b) Pro 8:29b, When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
2a) Pro 8:30a, Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;

2b) Pro 8:30b-31 {p} Wisdom daily the LORD’s delight/ rejoicing in His created works;

2a) Pro 8:32-36, The excellence of wisdom: whoever finds me finds life + obtains favor from the LORD;

32 Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways;
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it;
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors;
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.