Proverbs 8 Comparison: Wycliffe Bible (1395) vs King James Version
Proverbs 8
1Whether wisdom crieth not ofte; and prudence yyueth his vois?
2In souereyneste and hiy coppis, aboue the weie, in the myddis of pathis,
3and it stondith bisidis the yate of the citee, in thilke closyngis, and spekith, and seith, A!
4ye men, Y crie ofte to you; and my vois is to the sones of men.
5Litle children, vndirstonde ye wisdom; and ye vnwise men, `perseyue wisdom.
6Here ye, for Y schal speke of grete thingis; and my lippis schulen be openyd, to preche riytful thingis.
7My throte schal bithenke treuthe; and my lippis schulen curse a wickid man.
8My wordis ben iust; no schrewid thing, nether weiward is in tho.
9`My wordis ben riytful to hem that vndurstonden; and ben euene to hem that fynden kunnyng.
10Take ye my chastisyng, and not money; chese ye teching more than tresour.
11For wisdom is betere than alle richessis moost preciouse; and al desirable thing mai not be comparisound therto.
12Y, wisdom, dwelle in counsel; and Y am among lernyd thouytis.
13The drede of the Lord hatith yuel; Y curse boost, and pride, and a schrewid weie, and a double tungid mouth.
14Counseil is myn, and equyte `is myn; prudence is myn, and strengthe `is myn.
15Kyngis regnen bi me; and the makeris of lawis demen iust thingis bi me.
16Princis comaunden bi me; and myyti men demen riytfulnesse bi me.
17I loue hem that louen me; and thei that waken eerli to me, schulen fynde me.
18With me ben rychessis, and glorie; souereyn richessis, and riytfulnesse.
19My fruyt is betere than gold, and precyouse stoon; and my seedis ben betere than chosun siluer.
20Y go in the weies of riytfulnesse, in the myddis of pathis of doom;
21that Y make riche hem that louen me, and that Y fille her tresouris.
22The Lord weldide me in the bigynnyng of hise weies; bifore that he made ony thing, at the bigynnyng.
23Fro with out bigynnyng Y was ordeined; and fro elde tymes, bifor that the erthe was maad.
24Depthis of watris weren not yit; and Y was conseyued thanne. The wellis of watris hadden not brokun out yit,
25and hillis stoden not togidere yit bi sad heuynesse; bifor litil hillis Y was born.
26Yit he hadde not maad erthe; and floodis, and the herris of the world.
27Whanne he made redi heuenes, Y was present; whanne he cumpasside the depthis of watris bi certeyn lawe and cumpas.
28Whanne he made stidfast the eir aboue; and weiede the wellis of watris.
29Whanne he cumpasside to the see his marke; and settide lawe to watris, that tho schulden not passe her coostis. Whanne he peiside the foundementis of erthe;
30Y was making alle thingis with him. And Y delitide bi alle daies, and pleiede bifore hym in al tyme,
31and Y pleiede in the world; and my delices ben to be with the sones of men.
32Now therfor, sones, here ye me; blessid ben thei that kepen my weies.
33Here ye teching, and be ye wise men; and nile ye caste it awei.
34Blessid is the man that herith me, and that wakith at my yatis al dai; and kepith at the postis of my dore.
35He that fyndith me, schal fynde lijf; and schal drawe helthe of the Lord.
36But he that synneth ayens me, schal hurte his soule; alle that haten me, louen deeth.
Proverbs 8
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Understanding Wycliffe Bible (1395) vs King James Version in Proverbs 8
Wycliffe Bible (1395) (Wycliffe)
The first complete English translation of the Bible (1395) by John Wycliffe and his followers. Translated from the Latin Vulgate. A landmark in English history and the Reformation.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Proverbs 8 in the Wycliffe Bible (1395) and King James Version. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Proverbs 8:16
"Princis comaunden bi me; and myyti men demen riytfulnesse bi me."
"By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth."
