Paragraph 8:12–21

After again identifying herself and the qualities that she is associated with (12–13), Wisdom describes why people should choose her. They should choose her because she is the basis of an orderly society (14–16). She is also the source of wealth and other benefits to those who seek and find her (17–21).

8:12

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

12a
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence,

12b and I find knowledge and discretion.

8:12a

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence: Wisdom identifies herself figuratively as someone who lives in the same house as prudence or “shrewdness.” These figures of speech (personification and metaphor) indicate that wisdom is closely associated with shrewdness. Some ways to translate these figures are:

• Keep the figure of personification, but do not use the figure of living together. For example:

I am Wisdom—Common Sense is… (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

I am Wisdom. It’s as if I live in the same house as Prudence.

If you identified wisdom with a phrase such as “I, wisdom” or “I am Wisdom” in 8:11, you may not need to repeat it here.

prudence:

8:12b

and I find knowledge and discretion:
Wisdom describes herself as a person who does not automatically possess knowledge but has to gain it.

discretion: (Hebrew: mǝzimmah):

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