A5 C 8:1. Wisdom's call.
D E 8:2,3. From high places.
F 8:4-6. To the simple.
G 8:7-9. Reasons.
H 8:10-31. Wisdom self-commended.
C 8:32-36. Wisdom's call.
D E 9:1-3. From high places.
F 9:4-6. To the simple.
G 9:7-9. Reasons.
H 9:10-12. Wisdom self-commended.
Proverbs 8)
1 Does not wisdom cry? (I mean it’s loud enough and you can hear if you listen)
And understanding put forth her voice? (Common sense. Do you have common sense that you can utilize to keep you out of trouble ?)
2 She stands in the top of places of vantage,
By the way in the places where the paths meet. (Wisdom is there even when you get off the path. Wisdom is there to give you discernment and enough sense to get you back on the right way of the path. She’s there and once you put her around your neck and in your heart and in your soul and in your mind, wisdom will always lead you correctly)
3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, (That’s where judgment takes place. Wisdom is there at judgment.)
At the coming in at the doors. (She’s there. In other words if you have implanted that in the table of your mind, that is to say in your memory cells, it keeps you on the path that is pleasing to God.)
4 To you, O men, I call; (This is wisdom speaking. Can you listen? She says, “I call.”)
And my voice is to the sons of man. (Just as Christ was the Son of man, which is to say Emanuel, God with us, wisdom is there too, and there for all that will accept them. And whosoever will, as well as the sons of Adam, which it is in the Hebrew.)
5 O you simple, understand shrewdness: (This word simple is a little different here. It means unsuspecting. It doesn’t mean feeble minded. Unsuspecting. That says a lot within itself. Who is unsuspecting? Well five of the virgins were unsuspecting when they thought they were alright. See Matthew 25:1-13. So it means Christians that are unsuspecting because they are basically biblically illiterate, not knowing what’s going to happen. That’s who He’s talking to. He’s calling them simple.)
And, you fools (fat, and then dense, or stupid, which comes of it, showing itself in impiety), be you of an understanding heart. (In other words common sense. That is wisdom herself crying out to those that need help. Wisdom will not deny that help if one finally comes to a point that they will turn to our Father and ask for that wisdom in a deserving sense.)
6 Hear; for I will speak of representative truths;
And the opening of my lips shall be right things. (She’s saying, "listen I’m going to tell you some important information." And beloved you will never hear any information more important than you will hear in the remainder of this chapter which will ground you in God’s overall way or path. Or better yet, His plan. He will teach you the right truths.)
7 For my mouth shall speak truth;
And lawlessness is an abomination to my lips. (Every kind of deception is an abomination to the lips wisdom. And wisdom is what deters, drives away and does-in deception. Deception cannot operate when wisdom is present. That is to say the right wisdom. God’s wisdom, not the world’s.)
8 All the sayings of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing twisted (or crafty) or perverse in them. (Froward being, there is nothing twisted or crafty. Perverse meaning nothing evil. So you can take that word and have a calm understanding life with the spirit of peace upon you. Ultimately bringing peace of mind if you listen to wisdom and absorb it. Wisdom will keep you away from the things that are crafty and twisted and evil.)
9 They are all plain to him that understands, (They stick out like a sore thumb.)
And right to them that find knowledge. (In other words those that have a keen mind and are able to practice a little bit of common sense. That which is idiotic or that which is wrong, it sticks out like a sore thumb and you can turn away. Those that know the appearance of the spurious messiah, to you it’s no step and you’re not that concerned about it because you know you can handle it. Why? Because God is even going to tell you what to say at that moment. You don’t have anything to worry about. All of God’s enemies are afraid of God’s children if, and that’s a big IF they exercise the power God has given them.)
H J 10,11. Wisdom personified.
K L 12-14. Prudence.
M 15,16. Rule.
N 17. Recompense.
K L 18,19. Riches, &c.
M 20. Righteousness.
N 21. Wisdom personified.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver;
And knowledge rather than choice gold. (Now many would really have a difficult time with that but don’t worry. It’s a very true saying. There is nothing twisted or crafty about wisdom. In the first place, if you receive wisdom’s instructions before you receive the gold and silver, you’re chances of holding on to it are pretty good. But you give a fool gold or silver, there’s surely a crafty person hee-hawing right around the corner that is going to rip him off for it. So he’s not going to keep it long. Those that try to follow God; He only gives them what they are able to take care of and what He can trust them with. A lot of people resent that but it’s God’s truth. And the harder you work the more wisdom you gain. You see, naturally, anyone with common sense and wisdom, as a result, the gold and the silver is not that hard to come by. I mean that’s just payment for using wisdom and knowledge and certainly you are intelligent enough to hold on to it.)
11 For wisdom is better than rubies;
And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (You’re not to compare gold and silver to wisdom. You really can’t buy true wisdom for it is not for sale. It’s God’s gift to the man or woman that puts forth the effort. God has even arranged it whereby pretty much anyone can afford the word of God. That is to say the written word which are Christ’s teachings and our Father’s. And by that, anyone can gain, on an individual level, the opportunity to make their own mind up as to if they should listen and absorb that which is taught to them by wisdom.)
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge of sagacious inventions. (I dwell with discretion would be another way to interpret this Hebrew word for prudence. In other words it means discretion or using good discretion. The word witty here is kind of an old Anglo-Saxon word that means to be able to intuitively know, which is like when the bulb goes off, bingo, just like that, you know. Intuitively means you don’t have to be taught necessarily and by gaining wisdom it helps you intuitively to know if something is right or wrong and which path you should take. The road you take is your choice, but most of the time the one with wisdom is going to do what is right rather than wrong. And to intuitively know the right path with discretion is basically being a follower of Christ guided by the Holy Spirit within a person’s heart and mind. In other words its the spirit itself of Almighty God through divine intervention of His wisdom that automatically tells you intuitively, and the spirit guides you.)
13 The reverence of the LORD (Yahaveh) is to hate evil:
Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
And the perverse mouth (put for the whole man. That’s the corrupt deceitful mouth. One that plants commands of dispute, and is argumentative), do I hate. (This is far beyond Zophar's mistaken definition of it in Job 28:28. A man may "depart" from evil from policy, while he loves it in his heart. But to "hate" it comes only from Divine wisdom. By nature men love evil. So we find here that wisdom hates the same things that God does. And that’s good. Why? Because wisdom is of God. And this is wisdom speaking. It’s not an individual. It’s our Father. Because wisdom is something you can poses within you and can add it, build it, preen it, cultivate it, and exercise it.)
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom:
I am discernment; I have strength. (And when you possess her beloved you have strength also. You’re not someone who’s like a reed bending in the wind. It’s like when John the Baptist was asked, “What, did you go down there just to see some old boy blowing in the wind?” No, John the Baptist was straight on. Straight on course. It didn’t matter what men would say whether they were kings or whatever, or king’s wives, John held the message of our Father straight on with that strength of wisdom.)
15 By me kings reign, (See Ps. 75;6,7. Dan. 2:21,47. Rom. 13:1-7. By using wisdom kings are smart enough that they can rule.)
And princes decree justice. (There’s only one justice and that’s truth, God’s truth. Many might say, “Well God doesn’t decide in courts today.” Oh, but He has the final word. Haven’t you heard? He will judge at the great white throne judgment. It doesn’t matter what men on earth judge today. But God's judgment will be right and correct and just. Why? Because of His wisdom.)
16 By me princes rule,
And nobles, even all the judges of the earth. (Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aram., Syr., read "righteous judges"; reading zedek, "righteousness", instead of 'erez, "earth". R.V. follows this. The Aramaic in the manuscripts do not have (ארץ ) 'erets, which is earth, rather it’s Zedek. Which is judge of the Zedek. And I must say that I have to go with the fact that the ancient manuscripts are more correct with Zedek. Judges of the Zedek for a very simple reason. You will read in Ezekiel chapter 44 in the millennial age that the Zadok, which is the same as word, it means upright and just which is God’s elect, will judge during the Millennium. So I think it an interesting point. Why? Because God’s wisdom is all in all. God’s divine wisdom is only one course. God’s divine wisdom, whether it were to come forth from 10 or 10,000, and it won’t, but let’s say it did, it’s still the same wisdom. It’s God’s wisdom. So the outcome would be exactly the same.)
17 I love them that love me; (That’s important. That’s very important. Realizing how close and a kin wisdom is to your Father, I stated before that it could even be your Father speaking in the 3rd party, “I love them that love Me.”)
And those that seek me early shall find me. (That is to say, those that seek me diligently shall find me. So if you seek wisdom from God’s word, He’ll bless your life and give you this set of rules in Proverbs to govern your civil life, your religious well being, as well as your business, and your profession. If you utilize that wisdom in your profession you can’t help winning. You can’t help being prosperous if you diligently seek that wisdom as to how to manage in this world in any condition. You intuitively know which way to roll with the punches thus people cannot help liking you. And most people like when someone is honest and straightforward and unashamed of wisdom. Of course not to the point of being prideful in it, but knowing how to administer and exercise having enough common sense as to when and where to do what. You can’t go wrong. Seek wisdom. Illustrations: Joseph [Gen.37;2,13,16,17; 39:3,9; 41:38]; Samuel [1 Sam. 2:26; 7:3-17; cp. Jer. 15:1]; David [1 Sam. 17:37,45,46]; Abijah [1 Hings 14:13]; Obadiah [1 Kings 18:4; cp. vv.3,12]; Josiah [2 Chron. 34:1-3,27,28]; Daniel [1:6,8; cp. 9:23; 10:11-19].)
18 Riches and honor are with me;
Yes, durable riches and righteousness. (If you have wisdom, all those things area within reach anyway. She, wisdom, says that riches and honor are with me. In other words if you have wisdom and welcome her into your heart where she dwells in that prudence sense, then certainly you have those things simply by reaching for them if that’s what your desire is.)
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold;
And my revenue than choice silver. (In other words, why is the fruit of wisdom better? Well the gold and silver won’t do it on it’s own. You know, someone could walk up and give you, let’s say a sizable amount of gold and silver, and really what have you got? If you don’t have wisdom, as I fore-stated, someone’s going to rip you off. But the important thing is that the fruit of wisdom is better because if you have the wisdom to appreciate it as to where it came from, you also have peace of mind, happiness, and are able to hang on to it. You have honor and are respected along with all those things that come with wisdom.)
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, (She leads you. Can you follow wisdom?),
In the midst of the paths of judgment: (Guaranteed acquittal. What are paths? They are ways of life. And she leads you in that path of life by the way that is righteous. That is to say the right way where you’re not going to get all knocked and banged up right here in the briar patches. She’s going to keep you on the smooth road of success. And certainly if you have wisdom she’ll lead. If you don’t have her, I’m sorry, she won’t lead you. It would not work. It would not be possible. Because wisdom cannot lead one that hath not wisdom.)
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;
And I will fill their treasuries. (That which has existence. It’s yours if you want it. That kind of covers all the bases with the word substance and it is a beautiful word. And what did it say? That I may cause all those that love me to inherit, that means gain, or obtain, or come by, basically, that which has existence, meaning anything in existence that you desire. All you have to do is ask for it. As long as it isn’t something that can harm you. God does have that way of protecting us and thank God for it. So you see, I hope you can realize that wisdom is that which brings peace of mind, which quit frankly is one of the most precious things. You could have everything in the world but you still wouldn’t be happy unless you inherit wisdom. Why the word inherit? Because our Father created it all and brought it into existence and it’s His to give to whom so ever he chooses.)
J O 22. In eternity past. With Yahaveh. P 23-39. Before the creation of man. O 30. In eternity past. With Yahaveh. P 31. After the creation of man.
22 The LORD acquired (implying a definite act) me in the beginning of His way, (All wisdom flows from God.)
Before His works of old. (See Col. 1:15-17; 2:9. Rev. 3:14. John 1:1; 17:5 "begotten before the world...born into the world". Elohim taking creature form in order to create; as He, later, took human form [flesh] to redeem. Hence "creation" and "redemption" combined in Christ [Rev. 4:11; 5:9]. Man created in His likeness; that in which He appeared to the patriarchs and to Joshua [5:13] was not temporary, or assumed for the moment, but was permanent. His "way" distinct from His "works" [Ps. 103:7]. "Before" - to this must be referred Eph. 1:4, and Col. 1:17. 3 times we have "before the foundations [or disruption, Gen. 1:2. See Matt. 13:35] of the world" [John 17:24. Eph. 1:4, and 1 Pet. 1:20]. Cp. the expression "from [or, since] the foundations of the world", 7 times [Matt. 13:35; 25:34. Luke 11:50. Heb. 4;3; 9:26. Rev. 13:8; 17:8]. See Matt. 13:35. The former has to do with His "Church", the latter with the "Kingdom"; the former with God's "purpose", the latter with His councils". Do you know what God’s works of old are? He’s talking about the very creation of this world. Wisdom was with God before God even created the first earth age, and wisdom was there. Well then, what did God do? Divine wisdom, naturally, comes from God because as is stated here, and will continue to state, that there was at one point in time, before anything else existed, that one could derive or inherit wisdom which already existed and was with YHVH our Father, the creator. So with that wisdom, God spoke and all things came into existence. So we’re going to go back a long ways and I want you to be aware of how valuable and how important that wisdom and common sense are. And if you have it and are to be fruitful in you life, remember to give God credit for sharing wisdom with you. I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. God is anxious to allow you to inherit your part of wisdom. And you don’t have to wait till you get to heaven to have those blessings and your part of wisdom. You can have it now by seeking early and diligently for she is waiting for you. She’s crying out. All you have to do is listen and you will find one of the most valuable things in the world and it is peace of mind, which is peace within yourself. To be happy with yourself is to be satisfied with your accomplishments. And that sometimes requires us to even be critical of ourselves so we strive to become better each day. You know I’ll share something with you. It’s good to be critical of yourself in that sense thinking that could do better if you had sought wisdom more deeply. It is healthy because it makes you strive harder, dig deeper, and pray to the Father harder for more wisdom and understanding whereby you can share that with others. It’s a healthy thing for you if you think about it. It can bring peace of mind.)
P j1 k 23. Before the earth.
l 24. Before the seas.
j2 25,26. Before the earth.
j3 27. When the heavens.
k 28,29-. When the seas.
j4 -29. When the earth.
23 I was founded from the outset of the ages (cp. Heb. 11:3), from the beginning,
Or ever the earth was. (Before the earth was created.)
24 When there were no depths (This means there was no ocean), I was brought forth;
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, (Cp. Ps. 104:8.)
Before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields,
Nor the highest part (or, the first atoms or particles) of the dust of the habitable world. (Wisdom was with Him. Now, do you think that God ever created anything in chaos? Do you think God ever created something bad coming out-the-gate? The answer to that is no. Why? Because wisdom was with Him before the first stone of this world was formed.)
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there:
When He set a circle (or vault) upon the face of the depth:
28 When He established the finer clouds (or skies) above:
When He strengthened the fountains of the abyss:
29 When He gave to the sea His decree,
That the waters should not pass His commandment:
When He fixed by statute (or marked out) the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I became close by Him (John 1:1), as one constantly with Him:
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth;
And my delights were with the sons of men. (Made in His image, Gen. 1:26,27.)
32 Now therefore hearken to me, O you sons:
For happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise,
And refuse it not.
34 Happy is the man that hears me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoso finds me finds life, (I.e. resurrection life, and life eternal. Cp. John 3:36. 1 John 5:12. See Lev. 18;5)
And shall obtain favor of the LORD. (As shown in Rom. 6:23.)
36 But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul:
All they that hate me live and act so as to lose life.