TRV
Translation
King James Version
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Complete Jewish Bible
Receive my instruction, rather than silver; knowledge, rather than the finest gold.
Berean Standard Bible
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
American Standard Version
Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.
World English Bible Messianic
Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Receiue mine instruction, and not siluer, and knowledge rather then fine golde.
Young's Literal Translation
Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.
See also
In the KJVVerse 16,613 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Proverbs 8 verses 1–11
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.
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.
The will of God revealed to us for our salvation is here largely represented to us as easy to be known and understood, that none may have an excuse for their ignorance or error, and as worthy to be embraced, that none may have an excuse for their carelessness and unbelief.
I. The things revealed are easy to be known, for they belong to us and to our children (Deu 29:29), and we need not soar up to heaven, or dive into the depths, to get the knowledge of them (Deu 30:11), for they are published and proclaimed in some measure by the works of the creation (Psa 19:1), more fully by the consciences of men and the eternal reasons and rules of good and evil, but most clearly by Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. The precepts of wisdom may easily be known; for, 1. They are proclaimed aloud (Pro 8:1): Does not Wisdom cry? Yes, she cries aloud, and does not spare (Isa 58:1); she puts forth her voice, as one in earnest and desirous to be heard. Jesus stood and cried, Joh 7:37. The curses and blessings were read with a loud voice by the Levites, Deu 27:14. And men's own hearts sometimes speak aloud to them; there are clamours of conscience, as well as whispers. 2. They are proclaimed from on high (Pro 8:2): She stands in the top of high places; it was from the top of Mount Sinai that the law was given, and Christ expounded it in a sermon upon the mount. Nay, if we slight divine revelation, we turn away from him that speaks from heaven, a high place indeed, Heb 12:25. The adulterous woman spoke in secret, the oracles of the heathen muttered, but Wisdom speaks openly; truth seeks no corners, but gladly appeals to the light. 3. They are proclaimed in the places of concourse, where multitudes are gathered together, the more the better. Jesus spoke in the synagogues and in the temple, whither the Jews always resorted, Joh 18:20. Every man that passes by on the road, of what rank or condition soever, may know what is good, and what the Lord requires of him, if it be not his own fault. There is no speech nor language where Wisdom's voice is not heard; her discoveries and directions are given to all promiscuously. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 4. They are proclaimed where they are most needed. They are intended for the guide of our way, and therefore are published in the places of the paths, where many ways meet, that travellers may be shown, if they will but ask, which is the right way, just then when they are at a loss; thou shalt then hear the word behind thee, saying, This is the way, Isa 30:21. The foolish man known not how to go to the city (Ecc 10:15), and therefore Wisdom stands ready to direct him, stands at the gates, at the entry of the city, ready to tell him where the seer's house is, Sa1 9:18. Nay, she follows men to their own houses, and cries to them at the coming in at the doors, saying, Peace be to this house; and, if the son of peace be there, it shall certainly abide upon it. God's ministers are appointed to testify to people both publicly and from house to house. Their own consciences follow them with admonitions wherever they go, which they cannot be out of the hearing of while they carry their own heads and hearts about with them, which are a law unto themselves. 5. They are directed to the children of men. We attend to that discourse in which we hear ourselves named, though otherwise we should have neglected it; therefore Wisdom speaks to us: "Unto you, O men! I call (Pro 8:4), not to angels (they need not these instructions), not to devils (they are past them), not to the brute-creatures (they are not capable of them), but to you, O men! who are taught more than the beasts of the earth and made wiser than the fowls of heaven. To you is this law given, to you is the word of this invitation, this exhortation sent. My voice is to the sons of men, who are concerned to receive instruction, and to whom, one would think, it should be very welcome. It is not, to you, O Jews! only, that Wisdom cries, nor to you, O gentlemen! not to you, O scholars! but to you, O men! O sons of men! even the meanest." 6. They are designed to make them wise (Pro 8:5); they are calculated not only for men that are capable of wisdom, but for sinful men, fallen men, foolish men, that need it, and are undone without it: "O you simple ones! understand wisdom. Though you are ever so simple, Wisdom will take you for her scholars, and not only so, but, if you will be ruled by her, will undertake to give you an understanding heart." When sinners leave their sins, and become truly religious, then the simple understand wisdom.
II. The things revealed are worthy to be known, well worthy of all acceptation. We are concerned to hear; for, 1. They are of inestimable value. They are excellent things (Pro 8:6), princely things, so the word is. Though they are level to the capacity of the meanest, yet there is that in them which will be entertainment for the greatest. They are divine and heavenly things, so excellent that, in comparison with them, all other learning is but children's play. Things which relate to an eternal God, an immortal soul, and an everlasting state, must needs be excellent things. 2. They are of incontestable equity, and carry along with them the evidence of their own goodness. They are right things (Pro 8:6), all in righteousness (Pro 8:8), and nothing froward or perverse in them. All the dictates and directions of revealed religion are consonant to, and perfective of, the light and law of nature, and there is nothing in them that puts any hardship upon us, that lays us under any undue restraints, unbecoming the dignity and liberty of the human nature, nothing that we have reason to complain of. All God's precepts concerning all things are right. 3. They are of unquestionable truth. Wisdom's doctrines, upon which her laws are founded, are such as we may venture our immortal souls upon: My mouth shall speak truth (Pro 8:7), the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, for it is a testimony to the world. Every word of God is true; there are not so much as pious frauds in it, nor are we imposed upon in that which is told us for our good. Christ is a faithful witness, is the truth itself; wickedness (that is, lying) is an abomination to his lips. Note, Lying is wickedness, and we should not only refrain from it, but it should be an abomination to us, and as far from what we say as from what God says to us. His word to us is yea, and amen; never then let ours be yea and nay. 4. They are wonderfully acceptable and agreeable to those who take them aright, who understand themselves aright, who have not their judgments blinded and biassed by the world and the flesh, are not under the power of prejudice, are taught of God, and whose understanding he has opened, who impartially seek knowledge, take pains for it, and have found it in the enquiries they have hitherto made. To them, (1.) They are all plain, and not hard to be understood. If the book is sealed, it is to those who are willingly ignorant. If our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost; but to those who depart from evil, which is understanding, who have that good understanding which those have who do the commandments, to them they are all plain and there is nothing difficult in them. The way of religion is a highway, and the way-faring men, though fools, shall not err therein, Isa 35:8. Those therefore do a great wrong to the common people who deny them the use of the scripture under pretence that they cannot understand it, whereas it is plain for plain people. (2.) They are all right, and not hard to be submitted to. Those who discern things that differ, who know good and evil, readily subscribe to the rectitude of all Wisdom's dictates, and therefore, without murmuring or disputing, govern themselves by them.
III. From all this he infers that the right knowledge of those things, such as transforms us into the image of them, is to be preferred before all the wealth of this world (Pro 8:10, Pro 8:11): Receive my instruction, and not silver. Instruction must not only be heard, but received. We must bid it welcome, receive the impressions of it, and submit to the command of it; and this rather than choice gold, that is, 1. We must prefer religion before riches, and look upon it that, if we have the knowledge and fear of God in our hearts, we are really more happy and better provided for every condition of life than if we had ever so much silver and gold. Wisdom is in itself, and therefore must be in our account, better than rubies. It will bring us in a better price, be to us a better portion; show it forth, and it will be a better ornament than jewels and precious stones of the greatest value. Whatever we can sit down and wish for of the wealth of this world would, if we had it, be unworthy to be compared with the advantages that attend serious godliness. 2. We must be dead to the wealth of this world, that we may the more closely and earnestly apply ourselves to the business of religion. We must receive instruction as the main matter, and then be indifferent whether we receive silver or no; nay, we must not receive it as our portion and reward, as the rich man in his life-time received his good things.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–11. Public domain.
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Clement of AlexandriaAD 215
The Stromata Book 6
[Jesus] “spoke all things in parables, and without a parable he spoke nothing” [to the apostles]; and if “all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made,” consequently also prophecy and the law were by him and were spoken by him in parables. “But all things are right,” says the Scripture, “before those who understand,” that is, those who receive and observe, according to the church’s rule of faith, the exposition of the Scriptures explained by him. And the church’s rule is the concord and harmony of the law and the prophets in the covenant delivered at the coming of the Lord. Knowledge is then followed by practical wisdom and practical wisdom by self-control, for it may be said that practical wisdom is divine knowledge and exists in those who share in God’s life, while the self-control that is mortal, which is present in those who philosophize, is not yet wise.
Basil of CaesareaAD 379
HOMILY ON THE BEGINNING OF PROVERBS 5
“Accept discipline, not silver,” so that at a time of calamity or physical illness or domestic trouble, you would think nothing at all perverse of God, but accept the blows meted out by him with great patience as though you were being castigated for your sins. Thus, conscious of being disciplined, say, “I will bear the wrath of the Lord because I have sinned against him.”
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Proverbs
Receive my discipline, etc. You cannot serve God and mammon (Luke XVI).
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Proverbs 8:10 presents a profound declaration from personified Wisdom, urging humanity to prioritize her invaluable teachings and understanding above all material possessions. This verse encapsulates a foundational truth within the book of Proverbs: that spiritual and intellectual riches, derived from God's divine wisdom, possess an enduring value that far surpasses the fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying allure of silver and the finest gold. It serves as a direct call to discernment, inviting listeners to make a deliberate choice for eternal truth over temporal wealth.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Proverbs 8:10 employs several potent Literary Devices to convey its message. Central to the entire chapter, and thus to this verse, is Personification, where Wisdom is depicted as a living entity, speaking, crying out, and offering counsel as a noble woman. This makes an abstract concept tangible and relatable, inviting a personal response and emphasizing Wisdom's active role in human affairs. The verse also utilizes Antithetical Parallelism, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, by contrasting "instruction" with "silver" and "knowledge" with "choice gold." This structure highlights the opposing values and forces the reader to acknowledge the qualitative difference between spiritual and material wealth. Furthermore, there is an element of Hyperbole or Exaggeration in the absolute declaration that wisdom is superior to all silver and all choice gold, emphasizing the immeasurable and incomparable worth of divine understanding. This rhetorical device aims to impress upon the listener the profound and ultimate value of Wisdom.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Proverbs 8:10 articulates a fundamental theological truth: God's wisdom, embodied in His instruction and knowledge, is the ultimate treasure and source of true life. This principle transcends mere financial advice, delving into the very nature of what constitutes genuine prosperity and lasting fulfillment. It challenges the human tendency to equate worth with material accumulation, redirecting focus to the spiritual and intellectual riches that flow from a relationship with God. The verse implicitly connects to the concept of God as the source of all wisdom and the Giver of all good things, emphasizing that seeking His understanding is paramount to living a life that truly flourishes. It sets the stage for a biblical worldview where spiritual discernment governs all other pursuits, recognizing that true wealth is not found in what one possesses, but in the wisdom that guides one's very being.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Proverbs 8:10 serves as a timeless challenge to re-evaluate our priorities in a world often consumed by the pursuit of financial wealth and material possessions. It calls us to a radical reorientation of our desires, urging us to invest our time, energy, and affections into what truly lasts and brings eternal dividends: God's instruction and knowledge. This means actively seeking wisdom through diligent engagement with Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel, allowing God's truth to shape our character and guide our decisions. When faced with choices that pit worldly gain against moral integrity or spiritual growth, this verse empowers us to choose the path of wisdom, trusting that true prosperity is found not in what we accumulate, but in who we become through Christ. It encourages a life of discernment, where the eternal value of God's truth always outweighs the temporary allure of earthly treasures, leading to a life of genuine fulfillment and purpose.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Proverbs 8:10 mean that all material wealth is bad or that Christians should be poor?
Answer: No, Proverbs 8:10 does not condemn wealth itself, nor does it advocate for poverty. Instead, it establishes a hierarchy of values, asserting that divine instruction and knowledge are superior to material riches. The Bible acknowledges that wealth can be a blessing from God (Proverbs 10:22), but it consistently warns against the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) and the danger of trusting in riches rather than in God (Proverbs 11:28). The verse's primary message is about prioritization: true wisdom, which leads to life and righteousness, must always be esteemed above any earthly treasure.
What is "Wisdom" in Proverbs 8, and how can I "receive" her instruction today?
Answer: In Proverbs 8, "Wisdom" is personified as a divine figure who was present with God at creation, actively participating in the ordering of the world. She is portrayed as an accessible and benevolent guide, calling out to humanity to embrace her life-giving counsel. To "receive" her instruction today means actively seeking God's truth through His revealed Word, the Bible. It involves diligent study, meditation, and prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate understanding. It also includes submitting to the discipline and correction that comes from applying biblical principles to one's life, allowing God's truth to shape one's thoughts, attitudes, and actions, much like a student receives instruction from a teacher.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Proverbs 8:10 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The personified Wisdom of Proverbs 8, who was with God from the beginning and through whom all things were created, is perfectly embodied in Jesus. As John 1:1-3 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." This identifies Jesus as the eternal Word, the very wisdom of God made flesh. Therefore, to "receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold" is, in the New Covenant, to receive Christ Himself. He is "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24), and in Him "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). To choose Christ is to choose the ultimate instruction and knowledge, a treasure far surpassing any earthly wealth, for He offers eternal life and true riches that never fade, as beautifully illustrated in the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price.