Provérbios 8

¹ Doth notSolomon declares that man is the cause of his own perdition and that he cannot pretend ignorance, for God calls all men by his word and his works to follow virtue and flee from vice.wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

² She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths.

³ She crieth atWhere the people resorted most and which was the place of justice.the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.

⁴ O men, I call vnto you, and vtter my voyce to the children of men.

⁵ O ye foolish men, vnderstand wisedome, and ye, O fooles, be wise in heart.

⁶ Giue eare, for I will speake of excellent things, and the opening of my lippes, shall teache things that be right.

⁷ For my mouth shall speake the trueth, and my lippes abhorre wickednesse.

⁸ All the wordes of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdenes, nor frowardnesse in them.

⁹ They [are] allMeaning that the word of God is easy to all that have a desire for it and are not blinded by the prince of this world.plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

¹⁰ Receiue mine instruction, and not siluer, and knowledge rather then fine golde.

¹¹ For wisdome is better then precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared vnto her.

¹² I wisdom dwell withThat is, unless a man has wisdom, which is the true knowledge of God, he can be neither a prudent nor good counsellor.prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion.

¹³ The fear of the LORD [is] to hateSo that he who does not hate evil, does not fear God.evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.

¹⁴ I haue counsell and wisedome: I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength.

¹⁵ By meBy which he declares that honours, dignities or riches do not come from man's wisdom or industry, but by the providence of God.kings reign, and princes decree justice.

¹⁶ By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the iudges of the earth.

¹⁷ I love them that love me; and those that seek meThat is, study the word of God diligently, and with a desire to profit.early shall find me.

¹⁸ Riches and honour [are] with me;Signifying that he chiefly means the spiritual treasures and heavenly riches.durable riches and righteousness.

¹⁹ My fruite is better then golde, euen then fine golde, and my reuenues better then fine siluer.

²⁰ I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths ofFor there can be no true justice or judgment, which is not rejected by this wisdom.judgment:

²¹ That I may cause them that loue me, to inherite substance, and I will fill their treasures.

²² The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way,He declares by this the divinity and eternity of this wisdom, which he magnifies and praises through this book: meaning by this the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ our Saviour, whom John calls the Word that was in the beginning (Joh_1:1).before his works of old.

²³ He declares the eternity of the Son of God, who was before all time, and ever present with the father.I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

²⁴ When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountaines abounding with water.

²⁵ Before the mountaines were setled: and before the hilles, was I begotten.

²⁶ He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the worlde.

²⁷ When hee prepared the heauens, I was there, when he set the compasse vpon the deepe.

²⁸ When he established the cloudes aboue, when he confirmed the fountaines of the deepe,

²⁹ When he gaue his decree to the Sea, that the waters shoulde not passe his commaundement: when he appointed the foundations of the earth,

³⁰ Then I was by him,Some read, a chief worker signifying that this wisdom, Christ Jesus, was equal with God his father, and created, preserves and still works with him, as in (Joh_5:17).[as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;

³¹ By which is declared that the work of the creation was no pain, but a solace to the wisdom of God.Rejoicing in the habitable part ofBy earth he means men, which is the work of God in whom wisdom took pleasure: in that as for man's sake the divine wisdom took man's nature, and dwelt among us, and filled us with unspeakable treasures, and this is the solace and pastime of which is here spoken.his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.

³² Therefore nowe hearken, O children, vnto me: for blessed are they that keepe my wayes.

³³ Heare instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not:

³⁴ Blessed is the man that heareth mee, watching dayly at my gates, & giuing attendance at the postes of my doores.

³⁵ For he that findeth me, findeth life, and shal obteine fauour of the Lord.

³⁶ But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his owne soule: and all that hate me, loue death.