Hear; for I will speak of excellent things - נגידים negidim , things which are preeminent, and manifestly superior to all others. The teaching is not trifling, though addressed to triflers. The opening of my lips shall be right things - מישרים meysharim , things which are calculated to correct your false notions, and set straight your crooked ways. Hence she declares, read more
My mouth shall speak truth - Truth, without falsity, or any mixture of error, shall be the whole matter of my discourse. read more
All the words - are in righteousness - בצדק betsedek , in justice and equity, testifying what man owes to his God, to his neighbor, and to himself; giving to each his due. This is the true import of צדק tsadak . There is nothing froward - נפתל niphtal , tortuous, involved, or difficult. Or perverse - עקש ikkesh , distorted, leading to obstinacy. On the contrary, read more
They are all plain - נכחים nechochim , straight forward, over against every man, level to every capacity. This is true of all that concerns the salvation of the soul. To them that find knowledge - When a man gets the knowledge of himself, then he sees all the threatenings of God to be right. When he obtains the knowledge of God in Christ, then he finds that all the promises of God are right - yea and amen. read more
Receive my instruction, and not silver - A Hebrew idiom; receive my instruction in preference to silver. read more
Wisdom is better than rubies - See on Proverbs 3:15 ; (note). read more
Wisdom's proclamation Again it is a poetical personification of truth, of God's Word, of religion, morality, sense, prudence; for all these are included in the comprehensive conception of wisdom that is placed before us. I. THE PROCLAMATION OF TRUTH HAS NEVER FAILED IN THE WORLD . The cry is coeval with the world, with the conscience of man. The preacher has an institution second to none in antiquity and in honour. II. THE PREACHER MUST RE CONSPICUOUS ... read more
The excellency of Divine wisdom: No. 1 In these verses we have portrayed to us the surpassing excellency of the wisdom of God. I. IT IS AUDIBLE TO EVERY ONE . "Doth not Wisdom cry," etc.? ( Proverbs 8:1 ; see homily on Proverbs 1:20-23 ). II. IT IS URGENT AND IMPORTUNATE . ( Proverbs 8:2-4 ; see homily on Proverbs 1:20-23 .) III. IT MAKES ITS APPEAL TO UNIVERSAL MAN . ( Proverbs 8:4 , Proverbs 8:5 .) "Unto you, O men, I call,"... read more
Christ the Wisdom of God: No. 1 Though it is not to be supposed that Jesus Christ was in the mind of the writer of this passage, yet as he does personify wisdom, and as wisdom was incarnated in that Son of man who was the Son of God, we should expect to find that the words of the wise man in the text would apply, in large measure, to the Lord Jesus Christ. They do so, and suggest to us— I. THE MANNER OF HIS TEACHING . ( Proverbs 8:1-3 ) He "spake openly to the world, …... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 8:5
O ye simple - פתאים pethaim , ye that are deceived, and with flattering words and fair speeches deluded and drawn away. Ye fools - כסילים kesilim , ye stupid, stiffnecked, senseless people. That preaching is never likely to do much good, that is not pointed; specifying and describing vices, and charging them home on the consciences of transgressors. Where this is not done, the congregation is unconcerned; no man supposes he has any thing to do in the business, especially if the... read more