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Proverbs 8

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Wisdom's Public Call 1–4

1
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.

The Excellence and Value of Wisdom 5–11

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. ​

Wisdom's Attributes and Rewards 12–21

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.

Wisdom's Role in Creation 22–31

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. ​

The Call to Hear and Find Life 32–36

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. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Proverbs 8

Verse 1

Doth not wisdom cry? — Wisdom is spoken of as a person with 'her voice', as in 1:20–21, 'she uttereth her voice in the streets'. Her public call is set against the other woman of ch.7, who 'lieth in wait at every corner' (7:12) and meets the simple youth in 'the black and dark night' (7:9–10). In v.3 she calls 'at the gates'.

Verse 2

the top of high places — Marom is a height, and 'the places of the paths' is literally 'the house of paths' (beth netivot), where tracks meet. Wisdom takes her stand where travellers pass. In 9:14 the foolish woman also 'sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city'.

Verse 5

O ye simple — Pethi, the open and untaught, whom 1:22 asks, 'How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?' 'Understand wisdom' is ormah, shrewdness or prudence, the word rendered 'prudence' in v.12 and 'subtilty' in 1:4, 'To give subtilty to the simple'. The same verb, bin, is used twice in the line.

Verse 9

plain… right — The words of vv.7–8 are meant: 'there is nothing froward or perverse in them' (v.8). Nakoach is straightforward, yashar is level or upright. They are plain to the man who already understands: 'knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth' (14:6).

Verse 11

better than rubies — The comparison is made in 3:15, 'more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her', and in Job 28:18, 'the price of wisdom is above rubies'. 'Things… desired' (chephets) is the word for what a man delights in or values.

Verse 12

prudence — Ormah, the word of v.5, 'understand wisdom'. 'Witty inventions' is mezimmah, a plan or purpose, translated 'discretion' in 1:4. Wisdom as skill in making appears with Bezalel, whom God 'filled… with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge' for the tabernacle (Ex 31:3).

Verse 13

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil — The verse defines the fear that 9:10 calls 'the beginning of wisdom'. Four things are hated: pride (geah), arrogancy (gaon, from the same root), 'the evil way' and 'the froward mouth' (tahpukah, perversity). Ps 97:10 says, 'Ye that love the LORD, hate evil'.

Verse 15

By me kings reign — Rule and justice come through wisdom: 'princes decree justice'. 'Decree' (chaqaq) is the verb used in v.29 of the LORD's appointing 'the foundations of the earth'. Dan 2:21 says the LORD 'removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise', and Rom 13:1 that 'the powers that be are ordained of God'.

Verse 17

seek me early — Shachar, to seek at dawn, hence earnestly. It is the verb of Ps 63:1, 'early will I seek thee'. The reciprocal love echoes Christ's words: 'he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father' (John 14:21).

Verse 18

durable riches — Atheq, what is old and so lasting, valued. 3:16 puts 'riches and honour' in wisdom's left hand, with 'length of days' in the right. Christ sets the order: 'seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matt 6:33).

Verse 22

The LORD possessed me — Qanah, to get or possess: 'I have gotten a man from the LORD' (Gen 4:1); 'possessor of heaven and earth' (Gen 14:19). With 'beginning' (reshith) it recalls 4:7, 'Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom'. Christian readers have long taken the speaker as Christ, 'the wisdom of God' (1 Cor 1:24), 'before all things' (Col 1:17).

Verse 23

set up from everlasting — Nasak, to pour out, used of installing a king: 'Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion' (Ps 2:6). 'From everlasting' (olam) is the word of Mic 5:2, 'whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting'. Christ speaks of the Father's love 'before the foundation of the world' (John 17:24).

Verse 26

the highest part of the dust of the world — 'World' is tebel, the inhabited earth, the word rendered 'habitable part' in v.31. The earth in which Wisdom later rejoices is here not yet made: 'while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields'. The same truth is said of the Son in Col 1:16, 'by him were all things created'.

Verse 29

he gave to the sea his decree — Choq, a statute: Jer 5:22 speaks of the sand as 'the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree', and Job 38:10–11 of 'my decreed place… Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further'. 'Appointed' (chaqaq) is the verb of the princes' decrees in v.15.

Verse 30

as one brought up with him — Amon, from a root meaning training; Strong's gives 'one brought up' and 'an architect', so the word can mean a child cared for or a craftsman. 'Delight' (shaashua) and 'rejoicing' (sachaq, to laugh or play) recur in v.31. John says of the Word that 'all things were made by him' (John 1:3).

Verse 31

my delights were with the sons of men — The same 'delight' and 'rejoicing' of v.30, now on 'the habitable part of his earth' (tebel, as in v.26). John writes that the Word 'was made flesh, and dwelt among us' (John 1:14).

Verse 32

blessed are they that keep my ways — Ashre, the word that opens Ps 1:1, stands here and in v.34. 'Keep' (shamar, to guard) is the verb used of waiting at her doors in v.34. Christ says, 'blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it' (Luke 11:28).

Verse 34

watching daily at my gates — Shaqad, to be alert, sleepless. Her 'gates' and 'doors' recall the places where she cried out in v.3, and the 'doors' belong to the house she has built (9:1). 'Waiting' is shamar, the verb of 'keep' in v.32. The man who hears is 'blessed' (ashre).

Verse 36

he that sinneth against me — Chata is properly to miss, as of a mark; the one who misses wisdom 'wrongeth his own soul'. The choice is that of v.35, 'whoso findeth me findeth life', and of Deut 30:19, 'I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life'. 15:32 says, 'He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul'.