Riches and honor are with me - Often the wise, prudent, and discreet man arrives literally to riches and honor; but this is not always the case. But there are other riches of which he never fails; and these seem to be what Solomon has particularly in view, durable riches and righteousness; the treasure deposited by God in earthen vessels. 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
14. Fourteenth admonitory discourse concerning Wisdom—her excellence, her origin, her gifts. She is contrasted with the strange woman of Proverbs 7:1-27 ; and the exceeding greatness of the blessings which she offers exhibits in the most marked manner the nothingness of the deceiver's gifts. One is reminded of the celebrated episode of the choice of Hercules, delineated by Xenophon, 'Memorab.,' 2.1. 21, etc. The chapter divides itself into four sections. read more
Wisdom's pleadings She has nothing novel to say concerning her nature, value, and blessings. Preaching must in the main be repetition; the iteration of the old, not with dry and sterile monotony, but with that freshness which comparison with everyday facts and illustrations gives. New combinations of facts are ever arising in which to frame the old precepts and set them forth. Besides, love gives novelty to old truth, as the old song is enjoyed from the lips of the latest sweet singer. ... read more
Wisdom tells of her own excellence. read more
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Wisdom here enunciates the proposition which is the foundation of all her teaching, only here, as it were, on the reverse side, net as the beginning of wisdom ( Proverbs 1:7 ; Proverbs 9:10 ), but as the hatred of evil; she then proceeds to particularize the evil which the Lord hates. Taking the clause in this sense, we have no need to alter the persons and forms of the verbs to "I fear the Lord, I hate evil," as Dathe and others suggest; still less... read more
Hatred of evil I. RELIGION INCLUDES MORALS . This is the broad lesson of the text. It should be accepted as a self-evident truism. Yet it has been often obscured by dangerous sophisms. Thus some have regarded religion as consisting in correctness of creed or in assiduity of devotion—things treated by God as worthless unless accompanied by righteousness of conduct ( Isaiah 1:10-17 ). There is a common impression that religious merits may be pleaded as a set off against moral... read more
Having said what she hates, Wisdom now says what she is, and what she can bestow on her followers. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom. There is some doubt about the meaning of the word translated "sound wisdom" ( tushiyyah ) . The Vulgate has aequitas ; the Septuagint, ἀσφάλεια , "safety." The word occurs elsewhere in this book and in Job, but only in two other places of Scripture, viz. Isaiah 28:29 and Micah 6:9 . It means properly "elevation" or "furtherance," or, as others... read more
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Read on Mobile
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me - Wisdom shows itself; teaches man the knowledge of himself; shows him also the will of God concerning him; manifests the snares and dangers of life, the allurements and unsatisfactory nature of all sensual and sinful pleasures, the blessedness of true religion, and the solid happiness which an upright soul derives from the peace and approbation of its Maker. If, then, the heart embraces this wisdom, follows this Divine teaching, and gives itself to God, his love... read more