Proverbes 8
La Bible du Semeur
Le poème de la Sagesse
8 Ecoutez : la Sagesse appelle,
la raison élève la voix[a].
2 Elle est postée sur les hauteurs, ╵le long des routes,
aux carrefours.
3 Tout près des portes de la ville,
là où l’on passe pour entrer, ╵elle fait retentir sa voix :
4 « C’est chacun de vous que j’appelle,
c’est pour vous, les humains, que ma voix se fait entendre,
5 à vous, qui manquez d’expérience : ╵apprenez donc à réfléchir ;
et à vous, insensés : ╵devenez donc intelligents !
6 Ecoutez-moi, car j’ai à dire ╵des choses capitales,
et ce sont des paroles justes ╵qui franchiront mes lèvres.
7 Oui, ma bouche proférera ╵la vérité,
le mal fait horreur à mes lèvres,
8 et mon palais proclamera ╵uniquement ce qui est juste.
Il n’y a pas de fourberie, ╵rien de retors dans mes paroles,
9 elles sont toutes justes ╵pour qui comprend les choses,
elles sont droites ╵pour qui trouve la connaissance.
10 Recherchez mon éducation ╵plutôt que de l’argent,
et choisissez la connaissance ╵plutôt que l’or, l’or le plus pur.
11 Car la sagesse est préférable ╵aux perles précieuses,
et les biens les plus désirables ╵ne sauraient l’égaler[b].
12 Moi, je suis la Sagesse, ╵j’habite à côté de la réflexion,
j’ai découvert l’art de penser.
13 Lorsqu’on craint l’Eternel, ╵on déteste le mal.
Je déteste l’orgueil, ╵la suffisance, ╵la conduite mauvaise
et la bouche menteuse.
14 C’est à moi qu’appartiennent ╵le conseil et la réflexion.
Je suis l’intelligence ╵et possède la force.
15 C’est par moi que règnent les rois,
et que les dirigeants ╵décrètent des lois justes.
16 Par moi gouvernent tous les chefs,
tous les hommes d’Etat ╵et tous les magistrats sur terre.
17 Moi, j’aime ceux qui m’aiment,
et ceux qui me recherchent ╵ne manquent pas de me trouver.
18 Je suis accompagnée ╵de la richesse et de l’honneur,
de biens durables, de la justice.
19 Mon fruit est plus précieux que l’or,
oui, même que l’or le plus fin,
et les profits que je rapporte ╵valent mieux qu’un argent de choix.
20 Je marche sur la voie de la justice
et je suis les sentiers ╵de l’équité,
21 pour combler de biens ceux qui m’aiment
et remplir leurs trésors.
22 L’Eternel m’a donné naissance[c] ╵tout au début de son activité
et avant d’entreprendre ╵les plus anciennes de ses œuvres.
23 Oui j’ai été formée ╵dès les temps éternels,
bien avant que la terre fût créée.
24 J’ai été enfantée ╵avant que l’océan existe
et avant que les sources ╵aient fait jaillir ╵leurs eaux surabondantes.
25 Avant que les montagnes ╵aient été établies,
avant que les collines ╵soient apparues, ╵j’ai été enfantée.
26 Dieu n’avait pas encore ╵formé la terre et les campagnes
ni le premier grain de poussière ╵de l’univers.
27 Moi, j’étais déjà là ╵quand il fixa le ciel
et qu’il traça un cercle ╵autour de la surface ╵du grand abîme.
28 Et quand il condensa ╵les nuages d’en haut,
quand il fit jaillir avec force ╵les sources de l’abîme,
29 et quand il assigna ╵à la mer des limites
pour que ses eaux ╵ne les franchissent pas,
quand il détermina ╵les fondements du monde,
30 je me tenais ╵bien fermement à ses côtés[d],
me livrant sans cesse aux délices[e],
et jouant en tout temps ╵en sa présence.
31 Je jouais sur sa terre ╵dans le monde habité,
et trouvais mes délices ╵dans les êtres humains.
32 Maintenant donc, mes fils, ╵écoutez-moi :
heureux tous ceux qui suivent ╵les voies que je prescris !
33 Ecoutez mes leçons, ╵et vous deviendrez sages.
Ne les négligez pas !
34 Car : heureux l’homme qui m’écoute,
qui vient veiller à mes portes ╵jour après jour,
et qui monte la garde ╵devant l’entrée de ma maison.
35 Car celui qui me trouve ╵a découvert la vie,
il obtient la faveur ╵de l’Eternel.
36 Mais il se fait tort à lui-même, ╵celui qui me désobéit[f] :
tous ceux qui me haïssent ╵aiment la mort. »
Footnotes
Proverbs 8
New King James Version
The Excellence of Wisdom
8 Does not (A)wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the [a]high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you [b]simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I will speak of (B)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.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 (C)For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 (D)The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(E)Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And (F)the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (G)I have strength.
15 (H)By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of [c]the earth.
17 (I)I love those who love me,
And (J)those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 (K)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 [d]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.
22 “The(L) Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 (M)I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 (N)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the [e]fields,
Or the [f]primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 (O)When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When (P)He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 (Q)Then I was beside Him as [g]a master craftsman;
(R)And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And (S)my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For (T)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 (U)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 (V)obtains favor from the Lord;
36 But he who sins against me (W)wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:2 Lit. heights
- Proverbs 8:5 naive
- Proverbs 8:16 MT, Syr., Tg., Vg. righteousness; LXX, Bg., some mss. and editions earth
- Proverbs 8:20 walk about on
- Proverbs 8:26 outer places
- Proverbs 8:26 Lit. beginning of the dust
- Proverbs 8:30 A Jewish tradition one brought up
Proverbs 8
English Standard Version
The Blessings of Wisdom
8 Does not (A)wisdom call?
Does not (B)understanding raise her voice?
2 On (C)the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside (D)the gates in front of (E)the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O (F)men, I call,
and my cry is to (G)the children of man.
5 O (H)simple ones, learn (I)prudence;
O (J)fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak (K)noble things,
and from my lips will come (L)what is right,
7 for my (M)mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing (N)twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all (O)straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 (P)Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 (Q)for wisdom is better than jewels,
and (R)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and (S)discretion.
13 (T)The fear of the Lord is (U)hatred of evil.
(V)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and (W)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (X)counsel and (Y)sound wisdom;
I have insight; (Z)I have strength.
15 By me (AA)kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
17 (AB)I love those who love me,
and (AC)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (AD)Riches and honor are with me,
(AE)enduring wealth and (AF)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AG)better than (AH)gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than (AI)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
22 (AJ)“The Lord (AK)possessed[b] me at the beginning of his work,[c]
the first of his acts (AL)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (AM)set up,
at the first, (AN)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (AO)depths I was (AP)brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains (AQ)had been shaped,
(AR)before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he (AS)established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew (AT)a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he (AU)made firm the skies above,
when he established[d] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he (AV)assigned to the sea its (AW)limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out (AX)the foundations of the earth,
30 then (AY)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[e] (AZ)delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 (BA)rejoicing in his (BB)inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, (BC)O sons, listen to me:
(BD)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (BE)Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 (BF)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For (BG)whoever finds me (BH)finds life
and (BI)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (BJ)injures himself;
all who (BK)hate me (BL)love death.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
- Proverbs 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created
- Proverbs 8:22 Hebrew way
- Proverbs 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:30 Or daily filled with
Proverbs 8
King James Version
8 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
