6 Hearken, for noble things I speak, And the opening of my lips 'is' uprightness. 7 For truth doth my mouth utter, And an abomination to my lips 'is' wickedness. 8 In righteousness 'are' all the sayings of my mouth, Nothing in them is froward and perverse. 9 All of them 'are' plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For better 'is' wisdom than rubies, Yea, all delights are not comparable with it.
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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 8:6-23
Commentary on Proverbs 8:1-11
(Read Proverbs 8:1-11)
The will of God is made known by the works of creation, and by the consciences of men, but more clearly by Moses and the prophets. The chief difficulty is to get men to attend to instruction. Yet attention to the words of Christ, will guide the most ignorant into saving knowledge of the truth. Where there is an understanding heart, and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold.
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?