8 1 Wisdom declareth her excellency, 11 riches, 15 power, 22 eternity. 32 She exhorteth all to love and follow her.
1 Doth (A)not [a]wisdom cry? and understanding utter her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of the high places, by the way in the place of the paths.
3 She crieth besides [b]the gates before the city at the entry of the doors,
4 O men, I call unto you, and utter my voice to the children of men.
5 O ye foolish men, understand wisdom, and ye, O fools, be wise in heart.
6 Give ear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall teach things that be right.
7 For my mouth shall speak the truth, and my lips abhor wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdness, nor frowardness in them.
9 They are all [c]plain to them that will understand, and straight to them that would find knowledge.
10 Receive mine instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than fine gold.
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared unto her.
12 I wisdom dwell with [d]prudence, and I find forth knowledge and counsels.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate [e]evil, as pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way: and a mouth that speaketh lewd things I do hate.
14 I have counsel and wisdom: I am understanding, and I have strength.
15 By me [f]kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and the nobles, and all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me: and they that seek me [g]early shall find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me: [h]even durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even than fine gold, and my revenues better than fine silver.
20 I cause to walk in the way of righteousness, and in the midst of the paths of [i]judgment,
21 That I may cause them that love me, to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures.
22 The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was [j]before his works of old.
23 [k]I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, and before the earth.
24 When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled: and before the hills, was I begotten.
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there, when he set the compass upon the deep:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he confirmed the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave his decree to the sea, that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth.
30 Then was I with him [l]as a nourisher, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him,
31 And took my [m]solace in the compass of [n]his earth: and my delight is with the children of men.
32 Therefore now hearken, O children, unto me: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not: blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, and giving attendance at the posts of my doors.
34 For he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord.
35 But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his own soul: and all that hate me, love death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:1 Solomon declareth that man is cause of his own perdition, and that he can pretend no ignorance, forasmuch as God calleth to all men by his word, and by his works to follow virtue, and to flee from vice.
- Proverbs 8:3 Where the people did most resort, and which was the place of justice.
- Proverbs 8:9 Meaning, that the word of God is easy unto all that have a desire unto it, and which are not blinded by the prince of this world.
- Proverbs 8:12 That is, except a man have wisdom, which is the true knowledge of God, he can neither be prudent nor good counselor.
- Proverbs 8:13 So that he that doth not hate evil, feareth not God.
- Proverbs 8:15 Whereby he declareth that honors, dignity or riches come not of man’s wisdom or industry, but by the providence of God.
- Proverbs 8:17 That is, study the word of God diligently, and with a desire to profit.
- Proverbs 8:18 Signifying that he chiefly meaneth the spiritual treasures and heavenly riches.
- Proverbs 8:20 For there can be no true justice or judgment, which is not rejected by this wisdom.
- Proverbs 8:22 He declareth hereby the divinity and eternity of this wisdom, which he magnifieth and praiseth through this book: meaning thereby the eternal son of God Jesus Christ our Savior, whom Saint John calleth that word that was in the beginning, John 1:1.
- Proverbs 8:23 He declareth the eternity of the Son of God, which is meant by this word, wisdom, who was before all time, and ever present with the father.
- Proverbs 8:30 Some read, a chief worker: signifying that this wisdom, even Christ Jesus, was equal with God his father, and created, preserveth and still worketh with him, as John 5:17.
- Proverbs 8:31 Whereby is declared that the work of the creation was no pain, but a solace unto the wisdom of God.
- Proverbs 8:31 By earth he meaneth man, which is the work of God in whom wisdom took pleasure: insomuch as for man’s sake the divine wisdom took man’s nature, and dwelt among us, and filled us with unspeakable treasures: and this is that solace and pastime whereof is here spoken.