Proverbs chapter 8

Wisdom  calls out to us. Wisdom is better than silver and gold. Wisdom rewards those who seek her.

 


 

WISDOM CALLS OUT TO US

 

VERSE 1. Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?

cry out … raise her voice. Wisdom is personified as a woman. She calls out to us. She offers her wisdom to all who will receive her.

 

VERSE 2. On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

It is urgent that we reach out to other people. The Lord Jesus Christ calls us to go out and evangelize nonbelievers. Read more »

 

VERSE 3. Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

 

VERSE 4. “To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

the sons of mankind. Wisdom is available to every person.

 

VERSE 5. You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

You fools. Foolish people need wisdom the most. But they are the most likely to ignore her invitation.

 

WISDOM IS BETTER THAN SILVER AND GOLD

 

VERSE 6. Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

 

VERSE 7. For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

 

VERSE 8. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

 

VERSE 9. They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.

They are … right. Wisdom’s words correspond to reality. Therefore they are right.

 

VERSE 10. Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Proverbs and from the entire Bible.

knowledge rather than choice gold. It’s better to be poor and wise than to be rich and stupid!

 

VERSE 11. For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

 

VERSE 12. “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

 

WISDOM REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HER

 

VERSE 13. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

 

VERSE 14. Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

are mine. Wisdom itself is speaking in this verse.

 

VERSE 15. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

 

VERSE 16. By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

 

VERSE 17. I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

Those who seek me. The LORD God calls us to actively seek him.

Just as a relationship with other people does not grow automatically, so too, for most of us, our relationship with the LORD God does not grow automatically.

We are to commanded to ask! Read more »

 

VERSE 18. With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

wealth, and prosperity. In the Old Testament era, some people said if you are holy, God will make you rich. In our day, this view is growing in popularity among professing Christians. Read more »

 

VERSE 19. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

 

VERSE 20. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice;

 

VERSE 21. that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.

give wealth to those who love me. In the Old Testament era, some people said if you are holy, God will make you rich. In our day, this view is growing in popularity among professing Christians. Read more »

 

VERSE 22. “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.

NAB translation: The LORD begot me, the firstborn of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago.

The LORD begot me. Who was present when God created the universe Wisdom was there, beholding it all.

begot me. Is this a reference to Jesus Christ? He was “begotten not made.”

 

VERSE 23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.

 

VERSE 24. When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.

 

VERSE 25. Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;

 

VERSE 26. while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

 

VERSE 27. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

 

VERSE 28. when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,

 

VERSE 29. when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;

 

VERSE 30. then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

NAB translation: Then I was beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day. Playing before him all the while,

the craftsman. It could also be translated as “darling child.”

Playing before him. Wisdom from God is playful.

 

VERSE 31. rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

 

VERSE 32. “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

 

VERSE 33. Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.

 

VERSE 34. Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

 

VERSE 35. For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.

NLT translation. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

whoever finds me. The person who seeks God will find him. And along with finding God, they will also be given eternal life and divine favor.

 

VERSE 36. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”

NLT translation. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.

those who miss me. Not all believers seek the LORD God.

Some people simply “miss” God. They drift away. Or the many cares of life distract them from their search.

Somehow, they miss out on God. And in that omission, they deprive themselves of the infinite good of knowing God.

All who hate me. Some people have a hatred for the Living God. And for the things of God.

To be opposed to the Author of Life is to to be aligned with death.

 


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PROVERBS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

RESOURCES: SummaryOutline, Memorize, Sluggard, Tree of Life, Misogynism

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.