1 Doth not wisdom H2451 cry? H7121 and understanding H8394 put forth H5414 her voice? H6963
2 She standeth H5324 in the top H7218 of high places, H4791 by the way H1870 in the places H1004 of the paths. H5410
3 She crieth H7442 at H3027 the gates, H8179 at the entry H6310 of the city, H7176 at the coming H3996 in at the doors. H6607
4 Unto you, O men, H376 I call; H7121 and my voice H6963 is to the sons H1121 of man. H120
5 O ye simple, H6612 understand H995 wisdom: H6195 and, ye fools, H3684 be ye of an understanding H995 heart. H3820
6 Hear; H8085 for I will speak H1696 of excellent things; H5057 and the opening H4669 of my lips H8193 shall be right things. H4339
7 For my mouth H2441 shall speak H1897 truth; H571 and wickedness H7562 is an abomination H8441 to my lips. H8193
8 All the words H561 of my mouth H6310 are in righteousness; H6664 there is nothing froward H6617 or perverse H6141 in them.
9 They are all plain H5228 to him that understandeth, H995 and right H3477 to them that find H4672 knowledge. H1847
10 Receive H3947 my instruction, H4148 and not silver; H3701 and knowledge H1847 rather than choice H977 gold. H2742
11 For wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than rubies; H6443 and all the things that may be desired H2656 are not to be compared H7737 to it.
12 I wisdom H2451 dwell H7931 with prudence, H6195 and find out H4672 knowledge H1847 of witty inventions. H4209
13 The fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is to hate H8130 evil: H7451 pride, H1344 and arrogancy, H1347 and the evil H7451 way, H1870 and the froward H8419 mouth, H6310 do I hate. H8130
14 Counsel H6098 is mine, and sound wisdom: H8454 I am understanding; H998 I have strength. H1369
15 By me kings H4428 reign, H4427 and princes H7336 decree H2710 justice. H6664
16 By me princes H8269 rule, H8323 and nobles, H5081 even all the judges H8199 of the earth. H776
17 I love H157 them that love H157 me; and those that seek me early H7836 shall find H4672 me.
18 Riches H6239 and honour H3519 are with me; yea, durable H6276 riches H1952 and righteousness. H6666
19 My fruit H6529 is better H2896 than gold, H2742 yea, than fine gold; H6337 and my revenue H8393 than choice H977 silver. H3701
20 I lead H1980 in the way H734 of righteousness, H6666 in the midst H8432 of the paths H5410 of judgment: H4941
21 That I may cause those that love H157 me to inherit H5157 substance; H3426 and I will fill H4390 their treasures. H214
22 The LORD H3068 possessed H7069 me in the beginning H7225 of his way, H1870 before H6924 his works H4659 of old.
23 I was set up H5258 from everlasting, H5769 from the beginning, H7218 or ever H6924 the earth H776 was.
24 When there were no depths, H8415 I was brought forth; H2342 when there were no fountains H4599 abounding H3513 with water. H4325
25 Before the mountains H2022 were settled, H2883 before H6440 the hills H1389 was I brought forth: H2342
26 While as yet he had not made H6213 the earth, H776 nor the fields, H2351 nor the highest part H7218 of the dust H6083 of the world. H8398
27 When he prepared H3559 the heavens, H8064 I was there: when he set H2710 a compass H2329 upon the face H6440 of the depth: H8415
28 When he established H553 the clouds H7834 above: H4605 when he strengthened H5810 the fountains H5869 of the deep: H8415
29 When he gave H7760 to the sea H3220 his decree, H2706 that the waters H4325 should not pass H5674 his commandment: H6310 when he appointed H2710 the foundations H4144 of the earth: H776
30 Then I was by him, H681 as one brought up H525 with him: and I was daily H3117 H3117 his delight, H8191 rejoicing H7832 always H6256 before H6440 him;
31 Rejoicing H7832 in the habitable part H8398 of his earth; H776 and my delights H8191 were with the sons H1121 of men. H120
32 Now therefore hearken H8085 unto me, O ye children: H1121 for blessed H835 are they that keep H8104 my ways. H1870
33 Hear H8085 instruction, H4148 and be wise, H2449 and refuse H6544 it not.
34 Blessed H835 is the man H120 that heareth H8085 me, watching H8245 daily H3117 H3117 at my gates, H1817 waiting H8104 at the posts H4201 of my doors. H6607
35 For whoso findeth H4672 me findeth H4672 H4672 life, H2416 and shall obtain H6329 favour H7522 of the LORD. H3068
36 But he that sinneth H2398 against me wrongeth H2554 his own soul: H5315 all they that hate H8130 me love H157 death. H4194
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 8
Commentary on Proverbs 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Pr 8:1-36. Contrasted with sensual allurements are the advantages of divine wisdom, which publicly invites men, offers the best principles of life, and the most valuable benefits resulting from receiving her counsels. Her relation to the divine plans and acts is introduced, as in Pr 3:19, 20, though more fully, to commend her desirableness for men, and the whole is closed by an assurance that those finding her find God's favor, and those neglecting ruin themselves. Many regard the passage as a description of the Son of God by the title, Wisdom, which the older Jews used (and by which He is called in Lu 11:49), as Joh 1:1, &c., describes Him by that of Logos, the Word. But the passage may be taken as a personification of wisdom: for, (1) Though described as with God, wisdom is not asserted to be God. (2) The use of personal attributes is equally consistent with a personification, as with the description of a real person. (3) The personal pronouns used accord with the gender (feminine) of wisdom constantly, and are never changed to that of the person meant, as sometimes occurs in a corresponding use of spirit, which is neuter in Greek, but to which masculine pronouns are often applied (Joh 16:14), when the acts of the Holy Spirit are described. (4) Such a personification is agreeable to the style of this book (compare Pr 1:20; 3:16, 17; 4:8; 6:20-22; 9:1-4), whereas no prophetical or other allusions to the Saviour or the new dispensation are found among the quotations of this book in the New Testament, and unless this be such, none exist. (5) Nothing is lost as to the importance of this passage, which still remains a most ornate and also solemn and impressive teaching of inspiration on the value of wisdom.
1-4. The publicity and universality of the call contrast with the secrecy and intrigues of the wicked (Pr 7:8, &c.).
5. wisdom—literally, "subtilty" in a good sense, or, "prudence."
fools—as Pr 1:22.
6. excellent things—or, "plain," "manifest."
opening … things—upright words.
7. For … truth—literally, "My palate shall meditate," or (as Orientals did) "mutter," my thoughts expressed only to myself are truth.
wickedness—specially falsehood, as opposed to truth.
8. in righteousness—or, "righteous" (Ps 9:8,11:7).
froward—literally, "twisted," or contradictory, that is, to truth.
9. plain … understandeth—easily seen by those who apply their minds.
that find—implying search.
10. not silver—preferable to it, so last clause implies comparison.
11. (Compare Pr 3:14, 15).
12. prudence—as in Pr 8:5. The connection of "wisdom" and "prudence" is that of the dictates of sound wisdom and its application.
find … inventions—or, "devices," "discreet ways" (Pr 1:4).
13. For such is the effect of the fear of God, by which hatred to evil preserves from it.
froward mouth—or, "speech" (Pr 2:12; 6:14).
14. It also gives the elements of good character in counsel.
sound wisdom—(Pr 2:7).
I … strength—or, "As for me, understanding is strength to me," the source of power (Ec 9:16); good judgment gives more efficiency to actions;
15, 16. of which a wisely conducted government is an example.
17. early—or, "diligently," which may include the usual sense of early in life.
18. durable riches … righteousness—Such are the "riches," enduring sources of happiness in moral possessions (compare Pr 3:16).
19. (Compare Pr 8:11; 3:16).
20, 21. The courses in which wisdom leads conduct to a true present prosperity (Pr 23:5).
22-31. Strictly, God's attributes are part of Himself. Yet, to the poetical structure of the whole passage, this commendation of wisdom is entirely consonant. In order of time all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself. But to set forth the importance of wisdom as devising the products of benevolence and power, it is here assigned a precedence. As it has such in divine, so should it be desired in human, affairs (compare Pr 3:19).
possessed—or, "created"; in either sense, the idea of precedence.
in the beginning—or simply, "beginning," in apposition with "me."
before … of old—preceding the most ancient deeds.
23. I was set up—ordained, or inaugurated (Ps 2:6). The other terms carry out the idea of the earliest antiquity, and illustrate it by the details of creation [Pr 8:24-29].
24. brought forth—(Compare Ps 90:2).
abounding—or, "laden with water."
25. settled—that is, sunk in foundations.
26. fields—or, "out places," "deserts," as opposite to (habitable) "world."
highest part—or, "sum," all particles together,
27. when he set … depth—marked out the circle, according to the popular idea of the earth, as circular, surrounded by depths on which the visible concave heavens rested.
28. established … deep—that is, so as to sustain the waters above and repress those below the firmament (Ge 1:7-11; Job 26:8).
29. commandment—better, the shore, that is, of the sea.
foundations—figuratively denotes the solid structure (Job 38:4; Ps 24:2).
30, 31. one brought up—an object of special and pleasing regard. The bestowal of wisdom on men is represented by its finding a delightful residence and pleasing God.
32-36. Such an attribute men are urged to seek.
34. watching … waiting—literally, "so as to watch"; wait, denoting a most sedulous attention.
35. (Compare Lu 13:23, 24).
36. sinneth … me—or better, "missing me," as opposed to "finding" [Pr 8:35].
love death—act as if they did (compare Pr 17:9).