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Proverbs 8

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1Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

2On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

3Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

4“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.

6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

7For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.

9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

15By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;

16By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

22The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.

23From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

24When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.

25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.

27I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

29when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

30Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.

31I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.

36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

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Proverbs 8:1-11 Verses 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.

Proverbs 8:12-21 Verses 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.

Proverbs 8:22-31 Verses 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?

Proverbs 8:32-36 Verses 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.

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Key Words and Topics

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Being Proud Proverbs 8:13

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

Children: Commandments To Proverbs 8:32, 33

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. / Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

Children: Promises and Assurances To Proverbs 8:17, 32

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me. / Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

Church Ushers Proverbs 8:34

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

Desire: Spiritual Proverbs 8:17, 34

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me. / Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

Doors Proverbs 8:34

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

Earth: Created by God Proverbs 8:22–26

The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. / From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. / When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.

Fear of God: Reverence Proverbs 8:13

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

Fear of the Lord Proverbs 8:13

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

Finding God Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

God: Creator Proverbs 8:26–29

before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth. / I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, / when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

God: Eternity of Proverbs 8:23–25

From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. / When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water. / Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

God: Grace of Proverbs 8:35

For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.

God: Guide Proverbs 8:20

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

God: Wisdom of Proverbs 8:12, 22, 27–31

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. / The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. / I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

Going to College Proverbs 8:11

For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

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Righteousness See [535]JUSTIFICATION. Everlasting Eternal, applied to God (Gen. 21:33; Deut. 33:27; Ps. 41:13;… Justice Is rendering to every one that which is his due.… Harvest The season for gathering grain or fruit. On the 16th… Silver Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be… Doors Moved on pivots of wood fastened in sockets above and… Dwell Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men.… Earth (1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation… Fruit A word as used in Scripture denoting produce in general,… Truth Used in various senses in Scripture. In Prov. 12:17, 19,… Plain (1.) Heb. abel (Judg. 11:33), a "grassy plain" or "meadow."… Death May be simply defined as the termination of life. It… Lord There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered. (1.)… Love This word seems to require explanation only in the case… Face Means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam… Road (1 Sam. 27:10; R.V., "raid"), an inroad, an incursion. This… City The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which… Dust Storms of sand and dust sometimes overtake Eastern travellers. They…