12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And a knowledge of devices I find out. 13 The fear of Jehovah 'is' to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a froward mouth, I have hated. 14 Mine 'is' counsel and substance, I 'am' understanding, I have might. 15 By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness, 16 By me do chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of the earth. 17 I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly do find me. 18 Wealth and honour 'are' with me, Lasting substance and righteousness. 19 Better 'is' my fruit than gold, even fine gold, And mine increase than choice silver. 20 In a path of righteousness I cause to walk, In midst of paths of judgment, 21 To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Yea, their treasures I fill.
22 Jehovah possessed me—the beginning of His way, Before His works since then. 23 From the age I was anointed, from the first, From former states of the earth. 24 In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy 'with' waters, 25 Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth. 26 While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world. 27 In His preparing the heavens I 'am' there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep, 28 In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep, 29 In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters transgress not His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth, 30 Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight—day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times, 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights 'are' with the sons of men.
32 And now, ye sons, hearken to me, Yea, happy are they who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and slight not. 34 O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance. 35 For whoso is finding me, hath found life, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah. 36 And whoso is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 8:12-36
Commentary on Proverbs 8:12-21
(Read Proverbs 8:12-21)
Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word, and Christ in the heart; not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. All prudence and skill are from the Lord. Through the redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of his grace abound in all wisdom and prudence. Man found out many inventions for ruin; God found one for our recovery. He hates pride and arrogance, evil ways and froward conversation; these render men unwilling to hear his humbling, awakening, holy instructions. True religion gives men the best counsel in all difficult cases, and helps to make their way plain. His wisdom makes all truly happy who receive it in the love of Christ Jesus. Seek him early, seek him earnestly, seek him before any thing else. Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who love Christ, are such as have seen his loveliness, and have had his love shed abroad in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They shall be happy in this world, or in that which is beyond compare better. Wealth gotten by vanity will soon be diminished, but that which is well got, will wear well; and that which is well spent upon works of piety and charity, will be lasting. If they have not riches and honour in this world, they shall have that which is infinitely better. They shall be happy in the grace of God. Christ, by his Spirit, guides believers into all truth, and so leads them in the way of righteousness; and they walk after the Spirit. Also, they shall be happy in the glory of God hereafter. In Wisdom's promises, believers have goods laid up, not for days and years, but for eternity; her fruit therefore is better than gold.
Commentary on Proverbs 8:22-31
(Read Proverbs 8:22-31)
The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world. How able, how fit is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall not we delight in his salvation?
Commentary on Proverbs 8:32-36
(Read Proverbs 8:32-36)
Surely we should hearken to Christ's voice with the readiness of children. Let us all be wise, and not refuse such mercy. Blessed are those who hear the Saviour's voice, and wait on him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer. The children of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt of Wisdom's instructions, when people professing godliness, seek excuses for neglecting the means of grace? Christ is Wisdom, and he is Life to all believers; nor can we obtain God's favour, unless we find Christ, and are found in him. Those who offend Christ deceive themselves; sin is a wrong to the soul. Sinners die because they will die, which justifies God when he judges.