rd

Proverbs 8

1 Wisdom declareth her excellencie. 11 Riches. 15 Power. 22 Eternitie. 32 She exhorteth all to love and follow her.
1.Doeth *not awisdom crye? and understanding utter her voice?
2.She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths.
3.She cryeth besides bthe gates before the city at the entry of the doors,
4.O men, I call unto you, & utter my voice to the children of men.
5.O ye foolish men, understand wisdom, and ye, ô fools, be wise in heart.
6.Give ear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall teach things that be right.
7.For my mouth shall speak the trueth, and my lips abhor wickedness.
8.All the words of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdness, nor forwardness in them.
9.They are all cplain to him that will understand, and straight to them that would find knowledge.
10.Receive mine instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather then fine gold.
11.For wisdom is better then precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared unto her.
12.I wisdom dwell with dprudence, and I find forth knowledge and counsels.
13.The fear of the Lord is to hate eevil as pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way: & a mouth that speaketh lewd things, I do hate.
14.I have counsel and wisdom: I am understanding, and I have strength.
15.By me, Kings freign, and princes decree justice.
16.By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the judges of the earth.
17.I love them that love me: and they that seek me gearly, shall find me.
18.Riches and honour are with me: heven durable riches and righteousness.
19.My fruit is better then gold, even then fine gold, and my revenues better then fine silver.
20.I cause to walk in the way of righteousness, and in the middes of the paths of ijudgment,
21.That I may cause them that love me, to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures.
22.The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was kbefore his works of old.
23.I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning and before the earth.
24.When there were no depths, I was begotten, when there were no fountains abunding with water.
25.Before the mountains were settled: and before the hills, was I begotten.
26.He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the world.
27.When he prepared the heavens, I was lthere, when he set a compass upon the deep.
28.When he established the clouds above, when he confirmed the fountains of the deep,
29.When he gave his decree to the sea, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth,
30.Then mwas I with him as a nourisher, and I was daily his delight rejoicing alway before him,
31.And took my nsolace in the compass of ohis earth: and my delight is with the children of men.
32.Therefore now hearken, ô children, unto me: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33.Hear instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not: blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, and giving attendance at the posts of my doors.
34.For he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
35.But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his own soul: and all that hate me, love death.

Notes

1-*.
Chap. 1.20.
1-a.
Solomon declares that man is cause of his own perdition, and that he can pretend no ignorance, forasmuch as God calls to all men by his word, and by his works to follow virtue and to flee from vice.
3-b.
Where the people did most resort, and which was the place of justice.
9-c.
Meaning, that the word of God is easy unto all, that have a desire unto it, and which are not blinded by the prince of this world.
12-d.
That is, except a man have wisdom, which is the true knowledge of God, he can neither be prudent nor good counsellor.
13-e.
So that he that does not hate evil, fears not God.
15-f.
Whereby he declares that honours, dignity or riches come not of man’s wisdom or industry, but by the providence of God.
17-g.
That is, study the word of God diligently, and with a desire to profit.
18-h.
Signifying that he chiefly means the spiritual treasures and heavenly riches.
20-i.
For there can be no true justice or judgement, which is not directed by this wisdom.
22-k.
He declares hereby the divinity and eternity of this wisdom, which he magnifies and praises through this book: meaning thereby the eternal Son of God Jesus Christ our Saviour, whom St. John calls the word that was in the beginning, John 1.1.
27-l.
He declares the eternity of the Son of God, which is meant by this word Wisdom, who was before all time and ever present with the Father.
30-m.
Some read a chief worker: signifying that this Wisdom, even Christ Jesus, was equal with God his Father, and created, preserved, and still works with him, as John 5.17.
31-n.
Whereby is declared that the work of the creation was no pain, but a solace unto the wisdom of God.
31-o.
By earth, he means man, which is the work of God in whom wisdom took pleasure: in somuch as for man’s sake that Divine Wisdom took man’s nature, and dwelt among us, and filled us with unspeakable treasures: and this is that solace and pastime whereof is here spoken.