Wisdom Calling

^1-2-3Can’t you hear the voice of Wisdom?[#8:1–3 Wisdom is personified throughout the book of Proverbs. Lady Wisdom is a figure of speech for God himself, who invites us to receive the best way to live, the excellent and noble way of life found in Jesus Christ. Jesus is wisdom personified, for he was anointed with the Spirit of Wisdom. See Isa. 11:1–2; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:3.]

From the top of the mountains of influence

she speaks into the gateways of the glorious city.

At the place where pathways merge,

at the entrance of every portal,

there she stands, ready to impart understanding,

shouting aloud to all who enter,

preaching her sermon to those who will listen.

⁴“I’m calling to you, sons of Adam,

yes, and to you daughters as well.

⁵Listen to me and you will be prudent and wise.

For even the foolish and feeble can receive an understanding heart

that will change their inner being .

⁶The meaning of my words will release within you revelation

for you to reign in life.

My lyrics will empower you to live by what is right.

⁷For everything I say is unquestionably true,

and I refuse to endure the lies of lawlessness—

my words will never lead you astray.

⁸All the declarations of my mouth can be trusted;

they contain no twisted logic or perversion of the truth.

⁹All my words are clear and straightforward to everyone

who possesses spiritual understanding.

If you have an open mind, you will receive revelation-knowledge.

¹⁰My wise correction is more valuable than silver or gold.

The finest gold is nothing compared to the revelation-knowledge

I can impart.”

¹¹Wisdom is so priceless that it exceeds the value of any jewel.[#8:11 Literally “corals” or “pearls.”]

Nothing you could wish for can equal her.

¹²“For I am Wisdom, and I am shrewd and intelligent.

I have at my disposal living-understanding

to devise a plan for your life.

¹³Wisdom pours into you

when you begin to hate every form of evil in your life,

for that’s what worship and fearing God is all about.

Then you will discover

that your pompous pride and perverse speech

are the very ways of wickedness that I hate!”

The Power of Wisdom

¹⁴“You will find true success when you find me,

for I have insight into wise plans that are designed just for you.

I hold in my hands living-understanding, courage, and strength.

¹⁵I empower kings to reign and rulers to make laws that are just.[#8:15 We have been made kings and priestly rulers by the grace of redemption.]

¹⁶I empower princes to rise and take dominion,

and generous ones to govern the earth.

¹⁷I will show my love to those who passionately love me.[#8:17 Wisdom is not found by the halfhearted. One must love wisdom to gain it. A superficial desire will yield only a superficial knowledge.]

For they will search and search continually until they find me.

¹⁸Unending wealth and glory

come to those who discover where I dwell.

The riches of righteousness and a long, satisfying life

will be given to them.

¹⁹What I impart has greater worth than gold and treasure,

and the increase I bring benefits more than a windfall of income.

²⁰I lead you into the ways of righteousness

to discover the paths of true justice.

²¹Those who love me gain great wealth and a glorious inheritance,[#8:21 The Aramaic is “I will leave great hope as an inheritance to my friends.”]

and I will fill their lives with treasures.”

Wisdom in the Beginning

²²“In the beginning I was there,

for God possessed me even before he created the universe.

²³From eternity past I was set in place,

before the world began.

I was anointed from the beginning.

²⁴Before the oceans depths were poured out,

and before there were any glorious fountains

overflowing with water,

I was there, dancing!

²⁵Even before one mountain had been sculpted

or one hill raised up,

I was already there, dancing!

²⁶When he created the earth, the fields,

even the first atom of dust,

I was already there.

²⁷When he hung the tapestry of the heavens

and stretched out the horizon of the earth,

²⁸when the clouds and skies were set in place

and the subterranean fountains began to flow strong,

I was already there.

²⁹When he set in place the pillars of the earth

and spoke the decrees of the seas,

commanding the waves

so that they wouldn’t overstep their boundaries,

³⁰I was there, close to the Creator’s side as his master artist.[#8:30 See John 1:1.; #8:30 Or “architect.”]

Daily he was filled with delight in me

as I playfully rejoiced before him.

³¹I laughed and played,

so happy with what he had made,

while finding my delight in the children of men.”

Wisdom Worth Waiting For

³²“So listen, my sons and daughters, to everything I tell you,

for nothing will bring you more joy than following my ways.

³³Listen to my counsel,

for my instruction will enlighten you.

You’ll be wise not to ignore it.

³⁴If you wait at wisdom’s doorway,[#8:34 Or “Guard the door of my entrances.”]

longing to hear a word for every day,

joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I’ll say.

³⁵For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me,

and this is the secret of growing in the delight

and the favor of the Lord.

³⁶But those who stumble and miss me will be sorry they did!

For ignoring what I have to say will bring harm to your own soul.

Those who hate me are simply flirting with death!”