Proverbs 8:12-21

TEXT Proverbs 8:12-21

12.

I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling,

And find out knowledge and discretion.

13.

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil:

Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

14.

Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge:

I am understanding; I have might.

15.

By me kings reign,

And princes decree justice.

16.

By me princes rule,

And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

17.

I love them that love me;

And those that seek me diligently shall find me.

18.

Riches and honor are with me;

Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

19.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;

And my revenue than choice silver.

20.

I walk in the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of justice;

21.

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,

And that I may fill their treasuries.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 8:12-21

1.

Whom did Paul say should be discreet (Proverbs 8:12)?

2.

What other passages show God to have likes and dislikes (Proverbs 8:13)?

3.

Show that understanding is power (Proverbs 8:14).

4.

Do people accept leadership whose wisdom they do not respect (Proverbs 8:15)?

5.

Does Proverbs 8:16 mean there has never been a noble or judge who was not wise?

6.

What is the adverb modifying seek in Proverbs 8:17?

7.

What are the parallel words within Proverbs 8:18?

8.

How did gold, fine gold, and choice silver sound to the ancients (Proverbs 8:19)?

9.

Is there any difference between righteousness and justice (Proverbs 8:20)?

10.

Cite an example in your own community of one to whom wisdom brought wealth (Proverbs 8:21).

PARAPHRASE OF 8:12-21

Proverbs 8:12-13.

Wisdom and good judgment live together, for wisdom knows where to discover knowledge and understanding. If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption and deceit of every kind.

Proverbs 8:14-21.

I, Wisdom, give good advice and common sense. Because of my strength, kings reign in power. I show the judge who is right and who is wrong. Rulers rule well with my help. I love all who love me. Those who search for me shall surely find me. Unending riches, honor, justice and righteousness are mine to distribute. My gifts are better than the purest gold or sterling silver! My paths are those of justice and right. Those who love and follow me are indeed wealthy. I fill their treasuries.

COMMENTS ON 8:12-21

Proverbs 8:12. Again personified wisdom speaks after a one-verse break. Its personification is carried a step farther by speaking of her as dwelling in prudence. Her quest for knowledge and discretion are successful.

Proverbs 8:13. One hates evil who fears Jehovah because he views evil from God's viewpoint: he knows how wrong it is, how contrary to God, and what it will result in. Proverbs 16:6 says, By the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil. That God hates pride and arrogancy, Proverbs 6:16-17 says, There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: Haughty eyes... The evil way, by virtue of its location in the sentence, must be the wicked things that grow out of pride and arrogancy (like Proverbs 13:10: By pride cometh only contention). A perverse mouth is a mouth that is perverted from its intended speech. That God also hates such a mouth, Proverbs 4:24 says, Perverse lips put far from thee.

Proverbs 8:14. Wisdom's counsel should be heard because wisdom has sound knowledge. Pardon us, but many who counsel with young people and others sometimes give the weirdest advice. In short, such should not be counselors at all. Understanding claims to possess might, and indeed it does; it is power. With it, one is prepared; without it, one is defeated. Clarke observes: It enables man to bring everything to his aid: to construct machines by which one man can do the work of hundreds. No wonder that Bacon said, Knowledge is power.

Proverbs 8:15. Saul may have been king, but when he was going so absolutely against wisdom in a case involving Jonathan, he found out that the peoplenot hereigned under that condition (1 Samuel 14:23-45). When Rehoboam was not wise in not listening to the advice of his elders, he did not rule the whole kingdom but lost control of ten-twelfths of it (1 Kings 12:16-17).

Proverbs 8:16. The thought of this verse is mostly a repetition of the thought in Proverbs 8:15. Even parents will find out in time that unless their decisions make sense, their children will rebel and not submit to their rule.

Proverbs 8:17. Wisdom is good to those who love it. Wisdom is something to be sought and to be sought diligently. This is the way Solomon sought it, and God answered his prayer for it (1 Kings 3:9).

Proverbs 8:18. Wisdom is more valuable than silver and gold (Proverbs 8:10-11) and cannot be purchased with gold or silver (Job 28:15), and yet credit it with bringing both riches and honor to its possessor. Since the wealth is spoken of in connection with righteousness, it is spoken of as durable or enduring and not passing.

Proverbs 8:19. While gold, fine gold, and silver are among the products of wisdom (see riches and wealth in Proverbs 8:18), they must be among the lesser valued fruit of wisdom. Other fruits of wisdom must be considered greater. Some of them are mentioned in the next verse.

Proverbs 8:20. One who walks with and by wisdom will walk in the way of righteousness and in the paths of justice.

Proverbs 8:21. Again the acquisition of wealth can be one of the results of having wisdom. Fools and money don-'t go together (A fool and his money are soon parted, says an old saying), but wisdom and money do.

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 8:12-21

1.

Note the personification of wisdom in Proverbs 8:12.

2.

Why does one who fears God hate evil (Proverbs 8:13)?

3.

What makes wisdom a good counselor (Proverbs 8:14)?

4.

How was King Saul unwise in dealing with his son Jonathan (Proverbs 8:15)?

5.

What about parents and unwise decisions (Proverbs 8:16)?

6.

To whom is wisdom good (Proverbs 8:17)?

7.

Can one be both righteous and wealthy (Proverbs 8:18)?

8.

Is wealth the greatest fruit of wisdom (Proverbs 8:19)?

9.

What way and paths does wisdom walk (Proverbs 8:20)?

10.

Comment on wisdom and wealth going together (Proverbs 8:21).