Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? Proverbs 8:1.-Wisdom herself openly cries in all places, inviting men to her (Proverbs 8:1). Her invitation: Unto you men I call; hear, and you shall know right things-truth, righteousness, instruction superior to silver and gold, the fe... [ Continue Reading ]
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. SHE STANDETH IN THE TOP OF HIGH PLACES, BY THE WAY IN THE PLACES OF THE PATHS. "Standeth" implies assiduous perseverance in her gracious calls to men. Instead of taking her stand in dark places, in a corner (), like t... [ Continue Reading ]
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. SHE CRIETH AT THE GATES (HEBREW, AT THE HAND OF THE GATES), AT THE ENTRY OF THE CITY, AT THE COMING IN AT THE DOORS. As "the gates" refer to the city; so "the doors" to the private house. Messiah preached alike on... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. UNTO YOU, O MEN, I CALL; AND MY VOICE (IS) TO THE SONS OF MAN. "O men" (Ishim) - Hebrew, men of high position-do not think my call beneath your dignity to accept. "Sons of man" (Benee Adam) - men of the common sort ().... [ Continue Reading ]
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. O YE SIMPLE, UNDERSTAND WISDOM; AND, YE FOOLS, BE YE OF AN UNDERSTANDING HEART. "Wisdom" (Chakmah) in Proverbs 8:1 is a different Hebrew word from that here [ `aarmaah (H6195)], which is translated in Proverbs 1:4 sub... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. HEAR; FOR I WILL SPEAK OF EXCELLENT THINGS - literally, 'princely things' ( nªgiydiym (H5057)). Words that are as princes above all other topics of discourse. [The Greek translators have it as: heegemon... [ Continue Reading ]
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. FOR MY MOUTH (HEBREW, PALATE) SHALL SPEAK TRUTH; AND WICKEDNESS (IS) AN ABOMINATION TO MY LIPS. "Speak" - literally, 'meditate.' I will not speak rashly, but with premeditation; implying the meditative thoughtfulness an... [ Continue Reading ]
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. ALL THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH (ARE) IN RIGHTEOUSNESS; (THERE IS) NOTHING FROWARD (LITERALLY, DISTORTED) OR PERVERSE IN THEM. All that I promise or threaten, enjoin or forbid, is characterized by righteousne... [ Continue Reading ]
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. THEY (ARE) ALL PLAIN TO HIM THAT UNDERSTANDETH, AND RIGHT TO THEM THAT FIND KNOWLEDGE - (, "Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? ") "Plain to him that understandeth" - namely, by the teaching of... [ Continue Reading ]
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. RECEIVE MY INSTRUCTION, AND NOT SILVER. Thou canst not make as thy chief aim the acquisition of silver and that of true wisdom at one and the same time; for those aims mutually conflict, and each claims the whole man ... [ Continue Reading ]
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. FOR WISDOM IS BETTER THAN RUBIES - (cf. notes, Proverbs 3:14.)... [ Continue Reading ]
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. I WISDOM DWELL WITH PRUDENCE - I am most intimately associated with her. Compare the phrase "dwell with," in Isaiah 57:15; 1 Timothy 6:16. "Prudence" or 'subtilty' in the good sense (Hebrew, `aarmaah (H6195)). It is transla... [ Continue Reading ]
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. THE FEAR OF THE LORD (IS) TO HATE EVIL. Here Wisdom gives a sample of her blessed teachings. They consist not in mere abstruse speculations, but in practical inculcation of the fear of... [ Continue Reading ]
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. COUNSEL (IS) MINE, AND SOUND WISDOM. It is only with me that wisdom, solid, salutary, and substantial, in all possible contingencies, is to be found. Compare note, , on "sound wisdom" - not deceptive, unsubstantial, and flee... [ Continue Reading ]
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. BY ME KINGS REIGN, AND PRINCES DECREE JUSTICE - (; ; Daniel 4:26; .) If even "kings" owe their authority, and their power of reigning wisely and happily, to Wisdom, whose embodiment is Messiah, the King of kings, much more may we, as private individ... [ Continue Reading ]
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. BY ME PRINCES RULE, [ saariym (H8269)] - a different Hebrew word from that for "princes" [ rowzªniym (H7336)] in Proverbs 8:15. The "princes" rowzªniym in Proverbs 8:15 were those so named from fineness of intellect (from Hebrew,... [ Continue Reading ]
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. I LOVE THEM THAT LOVE ME: AND THOSE THAT SEEK ME EARLY SHALL FIND ME. So the Qeri' or Hebrew margin reads ( 'ohabay (H157)); but the Kethibh or text has: 'I love them that love her,' making it the Word of the Lord concerning th... [ Continue Reading ]
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. RICHES AND HONOUR ARE WITH ME; (YEA,) DURABLE RICHES AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. "Riches," as well the eternal and heavenly riches, as also temporal riches so far as God sees it desirable to "add" them to those who "seek first the kingd... [ Continue Reading ]
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. MY FRUIT (IS) BETTER THAN GOLD, YEA, THAN FINE GOLD. "My fruit" is the benefit derived from me (). AND MY REVENUE THAN CHOICE SILVER - (Ecclesiastes 7:11.)... [ Continue Reading ]
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: I LEAD IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - Hebrew, 'I cause (my adherents) to walk in the way of righteousness:' not only to perceive the things which are righteous, but also to fulfill them. 'Let us therefore examine ourselves... [ Continue Reading ]
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. THAT I MAY CAUSE THOSE THAT LOVE ME TO INHERIT SUBSTANCE. "Substance" [ yeesh (H3426)]: what has a real, solid, and permanent subsistence; as contrasted with worldly riches and honour, which are but shadows... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. THE LORD POSSESSED ME IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS WAY, BEFORE HIS WORKS OF OLD. "Possessed me" [ qaanaaniy (H7069)]. The Septuagint translates it 'created me' [ektise me]: so the Chaldaic, Arabic, and Syriac. This has been ma... [ Continue Reading ]
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. I WAS SET UP - literally, 'anointed;' i:e., set apart, in the purposes of God, to be Lord and King of the world. The same Hebrew ( nicaktiy (H5258)) as in Psalms 2:6, "I have set (margin, anointed) my King," etc. FROM EVE... [ Continue Reading ]
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. WHEN (THERE WERE) NO DEPTHS, I WAS BROUGHT FORTH; WHEN (THERE WERE) NO FOUNTAINS ABOUNDING WITH WATER. "Brought forth" [from chuwl (H2342)] is literally applied to birth by parturition; but it is... [ Continue Reading ]
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS WERE SETTLED, BEFORE THE HILLS WAS I BROUGHT FORTH. "Settled" - literally, sunk down, fixed firmly in the earth, so as to give a secure settlement to the earth above the waters. He mentions the earth ge... [ Continue Reading ]
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. WHILE AS YET HE HAD NOT MADE THE EARTH, NOR THE FIELDS, NOR THE HIGHEST PART OF THE DUST OF THE WORLD. The fields" - literally, the outside places ( chuwtsowt (H2351); cf. Job 5:10, margin), the... [ Continue Reading ]
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: WHEN HE PREPARED THE HEAVENS, I (WAS) THERE: WHEN HE SET A COMPASS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEPTH. "Prepared" or 'fitted.' This refers to the happy adaptation of the form, figure, magnitude, and motion of t... [ Continue Reading ]
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: WHEN HE ESTABLISHED THE CLOUDS ABOVE. The clouds in their constituents are thin and vapoury, and would soon disappear, but that the Lord "established" them. WHEN HE STRENGTHENED THE FOUNTAINS OF THE DEEP - He... [ Continue Reading ]
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: WHEN HE GAVE TO THE SEA HIS DECREE, THAT THE WATERS SHOULD NOT PASS HIS COMMANDMENT - (Job 38:10; ; .) "Commandment" - literally, 'His mouth,' (cf. , margin) Maure... [ Continue Reading ]
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; THEN I WAS BY HIM, (AS) ONE BROUGHT UP (WITH HIM) - (John 1:1) The expression "by Him" implies the distinct personality of Wisdom, and that it is not a mere attributive in God. The, Chaldaic p... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. REJOICING IS THE HABITABLE PART OF HIS EARTH. Not only do I rejoice in the presence of the Father, but also in the habitable earth, and with the creatures of God. The Son doeth all His works with joy, not as... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Epilogue, Peroration, or concluding summary. NOW THEREFORE HEARKEN UNTO ME - seeing that such are my excellencies. FOR BLESSED (ARE THEY THAT) KEEP MY WAYS - Christ's own words ().... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. NEAR INSTRUCTION - Hebrew, disciplinary instruction: the first step to wisdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. BLESSED (IS) THE MAN THAT HEARETH ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES - even as 'I cry at men's gates' (), BLESSED (IS) THE MAN THAT HEARETH ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES - even as 'I cry at men's gates'... [ Continue Reading ]
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. FOR WHOSO FINDETH ME FINDETH LIFE, AND SHALL OBTAIN FAVOUR OF THE LORD. "Findeth me," after long "watching daily at my gates (Proverbs 8:34). It is God really who gives, though we are said to find; because we must seek with a... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. BUT HE THAT SINNETH AGAINST ME WRONGETH HIS OWN SOUL: ALL THEY THAT HATE ME LOVE DEATH. Not to love and earnestly seek wisdom is to sin against her. To disregard her is to hate her, and is virtually, though u... [ Continue Reading ]