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1 Doeth not Wisedome crie? & Understanding put foorth her voice?
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.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousnes, there is nothing froward or peruerse in them.
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.
12 I wisedome dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inuentions.
13 The feare of the Lord is to hate euill: pride and arrogancie, and the euill way, and the froward mouth doe I hate.
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.
19 My fruite is better then gold, yea then fine gold, and my reuenue then choise siluer.
20 I leade in the way of righteousnesse, in the midst of the pathes of iudgment.
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.
27 When hee prepared the heauens, I was there: when he set a compasse vpon the face of the depth.
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:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought vp with him: and I was daily his delight, reioycing alwayes before him:
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.
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.
36 But hee that sinneth against me, wrongeth his owne soule; all they that hate me, loue death.
Christ, as Wisdom, calls to the sons of men. (1-11) The nature and riches of Wisdom. (12-21) Christ one with the Father, in the creation of the world, and rejoicing in his work for the salvation of man. (22-31) Exhortations to hear Christ's word. (32-36)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.
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.
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?
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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.