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CHAP. VIII.
1 The fame, 6 and euidencie of wisedome. 10 The excellencie, 12 the nature, 15 the power, 18 the riches, 22 and the eternitie of wisedome. 32 Wisedome is to be desired for the blessednesse it bringeth.
1 Doeth not Wisedome crie? & Understanding put foorth her voice?1
2 Shee standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the pathes.
3 She cryeth at the gates, at the entrie of the citie, at the comming in at the doores.
4 Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sonnes of man.
5 O yee simple, vnderstand wisedome: and yee fooles, be yee of an vnderstanding heart.
6 Heare, for I will speake of excellent things: and the opening of my lippes shalbe right things.
7 For my mouth shall speake truth, and wickednesse is an abomination to my lippes.7
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousnes, there is nothing froward or peruerse in them.8
9 They are all plaine to him that vnderstandeth: and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receiue my instruction, and not siluer: and knowledge rather then choise gold.
11 For wisedome is better then rubies: and all the things that may be desired, are not to be compared to it.11
12 I wisedome dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inuentions.12
14 Counsell is mine, and sound wisedome: I am vnderstanding, I haue strength.
15 By me kings reigne, and princes decree iustice.
16 By me Princes rule, and Nobles, euen all the Iudges of the earth.
17 I loue them that loue me, and those that seeke me early, shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me, yea durable riches and righteousnesse.18
19 My fruite is better then gold, yea then fine gold, and my reuenue then choise siluer.19
20 I leade in the way of righteousnesse, in the midst of the pathes of iudgment.20
21 That I may cause those that loue me, to inherite substance: and I will fill their treasures.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set vp from euerlasting, from the beginning, or euer the earth was.
24 When there were no depthes, I was brought forth: when there were no fountaines abounding with water.
25 Before the mountaines were setled: before the hilles, was I brought foorth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.26
27 When hee prepared the heauens, I was there: when he set a compasse vpon the face of the depth.27
28 When he established the cloudes aboue: when he strengthned the fountaines of the deepe.
29 When he gaue to the sea his decree, that the waters should not passe his commandement: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:29
31 Reioycing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sonnes of men.
32 Nowe therefore hearken vnto me, O yee children: for blessed are they that keepe my wayes.32
33 Heare instruction, and bee wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me: watching daily at my gates, waiting at the postes of my doores.
35 For whoso findeth mee, findeth life, and shall obtaine fauour of the Lord.35
36 But hee that sinneth against me, wrongeth his owne soule; all they that hate me, loue death.
View Wesley's Notes for Proverbs Chapter 8
8:1 Wisdom - It is a great question what this wisdom is. Some understand it of the Divine wisdom; others of the second person in the Godhead: and it cannot be denied that some passages best agree to the former, and others to the latter opinion. Possibly both may be joined together, and the chapter may be understood of Christ considered partly in his personal capacity, and partly in regard of his office, which was to impart the mind and will of God to mankind.
8:2 High place - Where she may be best seen and heard. Paths - Where many paths meet, where there is a great concourse, and where travellers may need direction.
8:3 Gates - The places of judgment, and of the confluence of people. The entry - To invite passengers at their first coming and to conduct them to her house. The doors - Of her house.
8:4 O men - To all men without exception.
8:5 Ye simple - Who want knowledge, and experience. Fools - Wilful sinners.
8:9 To him - Whose mind God hath enlightened. To them - That are truly wise.
8:10 And not silver - Rather than silver.
8:12 I dwell - My inseparable companion is prudence to govern all my actions, and to direct the actions of others. Find out - I help men to find out. Inventions - Of all ingenious contrivances for the glory of God, and for the good of men.
8:14 Wisdom - All solid and substantial and useful wisdom is assential to me.
8:15 By me - They rule their kingdoms wisely and justly, by my counsel and assistance. Their injustice is from themselves, but all the good they do, they owe to my conduct.
8:17 I love - I do not despise their love, but kindly accept it and recompence it with my love and favour. Early - With sincere affection and diligence, which he mentions as the evidence of their love.
8:21 Substance - Substantial happiness: opposed to all worldly enjoyments, which are but mere shadows.
8:22 Possessed me - As his son by eternal generation, before the beginning. Of old - His works of creation.
8:23 Set up - Heb. anointed, constituted to be the person by whom the Father resolved to do all his works, to create, to uphold and govern and judge, to redeem and save the world. From the beginning - Before which, there was nothing but a vast eternity. The earth - Which together with the heaven, was the first of God's visible works.
8:24 No depths - No abyss or deep waters. Brought forth - Begotten of my father.
8:26 The earth - The dry land called earth after it was separated from the waters #Gen 1:10|. Fields - The plain and open parts of the earth distinguished from the mountains. Dust - Of this lower part of the world which consists of dust.
8:27 I was there - As co - worker with my Father. Depth - Of that great abyss of water and earth mixed together, which is called both earth and water and the deep, #Gen 1:2|, when he made this lower world in the form of a globe.
8:28 Strengthened - When he shut up the fountains in the cavities of the earth, and kept them there as it were by a strong band. The deep - Which have their original from the deep, either from the sea, or from the abyss of waters in the bowels of the earth.
8:31 My delights were - To uphold them by my power and providence, to reveal myself and my Father's will to them from age to age, to assume their nature, and to redeem and save them.
8:34 Waiting - As servants or clients, wait at the doors of princes or persons of eminency.
Proverbs Chapter 8 Sidenote References (from Original 1611 KJV Bible):
1 Cha. 1. 20
7 Heb. the abomination of my lips.
8 Heb. wreathed.
11 Iob 28. 15 psal.19.11. chap.3.15. & 16.16.
12 Or, subtiltie.
18 Prou.3. 16.
19 Prou.3. 14.
20 Or, walke.
26 Or, open places. , Or, the chiefe part.
27 Or, a circle.
29 Gen.1.10. iob.38.10. psal.14.9.
32 Psal.119. 1, 2. and 128. 1.luc.11.28.
35 Heb. bring foorth.
* Courtesy of Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania
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