Wisdom and understanding raise their voice in public locations: the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads, beside the gates, and at the city entrance. Her address is universal, calling all people, especially the simple and foolish, to gain prudence and understanding.
Proverbs 8:1-11
1 Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
Wisdom's mouth speaks noble, right, true, and just things. Her lips detest wickedness. Her words are righteous, not crooked or perverse. Those with understanding recognize their uprightness. Wisdom's instruction is better than silver, knowledge better than choice gold, and wisdom better than rubies or any desirable thing.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
Wisdom dwells with prudence and possesses knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil, including pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech. Wisdom possesses counsel, sound judgment, insight, and power. By wisdom kings reign, rulers issue just decrees, princes govern, and nobles rule. Wisdom loves those who love her, and those who seek her find her. With her are enduring riches, honor, righteousness, justice, and a fruitful inheritance.
Proverbs 8:12-21
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
Wisdom speaks of her relation to the LORD before the creation of the world. She was brought forth before the depths, mountains, hills, fields, dust, heavens, horizon, clouds, fountains, sea boundaries, and foundations of the earth. She was beside the LORD as the world was ordered, rejoicing before him and delighting in the human race.
Proverbs 8:22-31
22 “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
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,
30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
Wisdom closes with a direct appeal to the sons. Those who keep her ways are blessed. They must listen to instruction and be wise, not disregarding it. The one who listens daily at Wisdom's doors finds life and receives favor from the LORD. The one who fails to find Wisdom harms himself, and all who hate her love death.
Proverbs 8:32-36
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”