8:4 “To you, O people, 1 I call out,
and my voice calls 2 to all mankind. 3
8:5 You who are naive, discern 4 wisdom!
And you fools, understand discernment! 5
8:6 Listen, for I will speak excellent things, 6
and my lips will utter 7 what is right.
1 tn Heb “men.” Although it might be argued in light of the preceding material that males would be particularly addressed by wisdom here, the following material indicates a more universal appeal. Cf. TEV, NLT “to all of you.”
2 tn The verb “calls” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for the sake of style.
3 tn Heb “sons of man.” Cf. NAB “the children of men”; NCV, NLT “all people”; NRSV “all that live.”
4 tn The imperative of בִּין (bin) means “to understand; to discern.” The call is for the simple to understand what wisdom is, not just to gain it.
5 tn Heb “heart.” The noun לֵב (lev, “heart”) often functions metonymically for wisdom, understanding, discernment.
6 tn Heb “noble” or “princely.” Wisdom begins the first motivation by claiming to speak noble things, that is, excellent things.
7 tn Heb “opening of my lips” (so KJV, NASB). The noun “lips” is a metonymy of cause, with the organ of speech put for what is said.