Wisdom Calls Out to Everyone
Study note
Unlike the unfaithful woman of chapter 7 who lurks in dark corners, Wisdom stands openly on the hilltops, at the crossroads, and at the city gates where everyone can see and hear her. She speaks truth, righteousness, and knowledge. She declares that her value is far greater than silver, gold, or rubies.
1 Listen! Wisdom is calling out to you. Understanding is raising her voice for all to hear. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She has planted herself on the hilltops along the road and at every place where paths come together. She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 There at the city gates, at every entrance, she is shouting her message: She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 "Every one of you, I am talking to you! My message is for all of humanity!" Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 "If you are naive, learn how to use good judgment. If you keep making foolish choices, start developing real sense." O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 "Pay attention, because what I have to say matters. Every word that leaves my mouth is honest and true." Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 "Truth is the only thing my mouth knows how to produce. Lies make me sick." For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 "Every sentence I speak is straight and fair. Not a single word of mine is crooked or misleading." All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 "Anyone with sense can see that my words are clear, and anyone with knowledge recognizes they are right." They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 "Pick my teaching over silver every time. Go with knowledge instead of the most expensive gold." Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 "I am worth far more than rubies. Nothing you have ever dreamed of having even comes close." For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
Wisdom's Power and Influence
Study note
Wisdom declares that she lives with good judgment and has the power to help kings and rulers govern well. She promises that everyone who loves her will find her, and she rewards those who seek her with lasting riches and honor. The fear of the Lord, which is hating evil, pride, and arrogance, is at the heart of wisdom.
12 "I, Wisdom, make my home right alongside good judgment. Thoughtful planning and deep knowledge are my constant companions." I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13 "Honoring the Lord means despising evil. I have no tolerance for arrogance, pride, wicked behavior, or lying." The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 "Sound advice belongs to me, and so does the ability to succeed. Understanding is who I am, and real power comes through me." Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 "Kings govern their nations well because of me. Leaders craft just laws thanks to what I provide." By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 "Princes hold their positions through me, and every judge on earth rules with fairness because of me." By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 "I give my love to everyone who loves me, and anyone who makes an effort to find me will." I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 "Wealth and prestige are in my hands, along with prosperity that never fades and true success." Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 "What I hand out is better than the most refined gold. What you receive from me outshines the purest silver." My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 "Righteousness is the road I travel. Justice is the path I always stick to." I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 "I shower genuine riches on those who love me and make sure their storerooms are packed full." That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Wisdom Was with God Before Creation
Study note
In one of the most remarkable passages in the Old Testament, Wisdom describes being present with God before anything was created: before the oceans, mountains, fields, or sky existed. She was like a master craftsman at God's side, delighting in the world as it was made. Many Christian scholars see this as pointing to Christ, who is called the 'wisdom of God' in the New Testament.
22 "The Lord created me at the very start, before any of his other works took shape." The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 "I was established at the dawn of time, before the world as we know it even began." I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 "I was brought to life before any ocean was there. I was there before a single spring bubbled with water." When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 "I was there before the mountains were pushed into place, before the hills even appeared." Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 "I existed before God shaped the land or the open fields, before the very first handful of dust on earth." While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 "I was there when he spread out the sky and when he drew a boundary line across the surface of the deep ocean." When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 "When he positioned the clouds overhead and set the deep underground springs flowing strong, I was there." When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 "When he drew the line the ocean cannot cross and put the foundations of the earth in place, I was right beside him." When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 "I was at his side like a skilled master builder. I was what made him smile day after day, always playing and full of joy in his presence." Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 "I was filled with joy about the world he made. Human beings were my greatest delight." Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Choose Wisdom and Find Life
Study note
Wisdom ends with a direct invitation: listen to me, watch for me daily, and you will find life and God's favor. But anyone who rejects wisdom is choosing death. There is no middle ground. This sets up the contrast with Folly in chapter 9.
32 "So now, my children, listen carefully to me. Truly happy are those who follow the paths I lay out." Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 "Take in my teaching and grow wise from it. Do not brush it aside." Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 "How blessed is the person who listens to me! They show up at my door day after day, waiting eagerly at my gate." Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 "Because finding me means finding life itself. God's favor comes to everyone who discovers me." For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36 "But anyone who turns their back on me only damages themselves. Everyone who hates me is choosing death." But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.