1The solemn call, 6sound teaching, 10inestimable worth, 12nature, 15benefits, 22and eternity of wisdom. 32Wisdom is to be attended to for the blessedness it bringeth.
1DOTH not awisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
a ch. 1.20,21; 9.1,3. 1Co. 1.24. Col. 2.3. Jn. 7.37.
2She standeth in the top of bhigh places, by the way in the places of the paths.
b ch. 9.3,14.
3She crieth at the cgates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
c ch. 1.21.
4Unto dyou, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
d Ps. 49.1,2. Mar. 16.15. Is. 55.1,3. Mat. 5.1; 16.6; 9.13. Re. 22.17.
5O eye simple, understand wisdom: and, fye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
e Is. 55.1-3. ch. 1.4,22; 9.4; 2.1-3; 3.1; 5.1. Je. 6.8. Is. 42.18. Ps. 94.8. f 1Co. 1.27; 6.9-11.
6Hear; for I will gspeak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
g ch. 22.20. Ps. 19.7-11. Col. 1.26,27. 1Co. 2.2,7. 2Co. 2.1. 1Ti. 3.16.
7For hmy mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is 1an abomination to my lips.
1Heb. the abomination of my lips.
h Re. 3.14. Ro. 15.8. Jn. 8.14; 17.17. 1Ti. 1.15. ch. 19.7-10; 30.5.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing 2*froward or perverse in them.
2Heb. wreathed. Ps. 12.6.
*froward-perverse, contrary, self-willed.
9iThey are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
i Mi. 2.7. Ps. 19.7-9; 119.30; 36.9. Is. 2.3,5. Mat. 13.11. 1Co. 2.10,12. Ep. 1.17,18.
10jReceive my instruction, and knot silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
j ch. 23.23. k 2Ti. 3.15-17. Mat. 16.26. Ps. 119.72,111,127,162.
11For lwisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
l Job 28.15-19. Ps. 19.10; 119.72,127. ch. 3.14,15; 16.16; 4.5,7. Phi. 3.8,9.
12I mwisdom dwell with 3prudence, and find out knowledge of *witty inventions.
3Or, subtilty.
*witty-clever, skilful.
m Col. 2.3. Ps. 40.5; 92.5; 139.17. Is. 55.8; 28.26. Ro. 11.33.
13The nfear of the LORD is to hate evil: opride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the *froward mouth, do I hate.
*froward-perverse, contrary, self-willed.
n ch. 16.6. Job 28.28. ch. 1.7. Ps. 97.10; 101.3; 111.10; 119.104,128. Ro. 12.9. 1Th. 5.22. 2Ti. 2.19. o ch. 6.12,17-19. Ps. 5.4-6; 138.6. Job 40.11,12. Hab. 1.13.
14pCounsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; qI have strength.
p Col. 2.3. Ps. 147.5. Is. 9.6; 11.2; 40.29. 1Co. 1.24. Jn. 1.4,9. q Ec. 7.19.
15rBy me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
r Mat. 28.18; 2.21. Da. 2.21; 7.14. Ep. 1.20-22. 1Pe. 3.22. Ro. 13.1. Re. 19.16.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I slove them that love me; and tthose that seek me early shall find me.
s 1Sa. 2.30. Ps. 91.14,15. Jn. 14.21,23. Ec. 12.1. Je. 2.2. Mar. 10.14. Ja. 1.5. t Is. 45.19.
18uRiches and honour are with me; yea , durable riches and righteousness.
u Mat. 6.33. ch. 3.16. Jn. 6.27. Lu. 10.42. Ja. 2.15.
19My vfruit is better than gold, yea, than wfine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
v ch. 3.14,15,18. Job 28.15-19. Phi. 3.8,9. Mat. 16.26. Ca. 2.3. Jn. 12.24. w Ps. 19.10.
20xI 4lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
4Or, walk.
x Is. 55.4; 49.10. Jn. 10.3. Ps. 23.3. Re. 7.17.
21That I may cause those that love me yto inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
y Je. 3.19. Is. 45.17. Ro. 8.17. Re. 21.7. Ps. 16.11; 17.15; 73.26. 2Co. 4.17,18. Jn. 4.14. 1Pe. 1.4.
22The zLORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
z Ps. 2.7. Jn. 1.1,14. Re. 3.14. Job 28.25-28.
23I awas set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
a Mi. 5.2. Ps. 89.19,20; 2.6. Is. 49.1-8. Je. 30.21.
24When there were no bdepths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
b Ge. 1.2.
25cBefore the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
c Is. 53.8. Ps. 90.2; 102.25. He. 1.10. Is. 9.6. Mi. 5.2.
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the 5fields, nor 6the highest part of the dust of the world.
5Or, open places.
6Or, the chief part.
27When he dprepared the heavens, I was there: ewhen he *set 7a compass upon the face of the depth:
*set a compass-marked out a circle.
7Or, a circle, Is. 40.22.
d Mat. 25.34. e Ps. 33.6. Col. 1.16. He. 1.2. Jn. 1.3.
28When he festablished the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
f Job 26.8; 28.25,26; 38.28,29.
29gWhen he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he happointed the foundations of the earth:
g Ge. 1.9,10. Job 38.4,5,10,11. Ps. 104.5. Je. 5.22. h Job 26.7. Ps. 24.2.
30Then iI was by him, as one brought up with him : and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
i Jn. 1.1,3,14,18. Mat. 3.17. Col. 1.13. Is. 42.1.
31Rejoicing in the jhabitable part of his earth; and kmy delights were with the sons of men.
j Ps. 40.7,8; 147.11. He. 10.5. Is. 4.2; 62.4,5. k Ps. 16.3. De. 33.3. Jn. 13.1. 1Jn. 4.19. Tit. 3.4; 2.14.
32Now therefore lhearken unto me, O ye children: for mblessed are they that keep my ways.
l Ps. 34.11; 45.10. m Ps. 1.1-3; 119.1,2; 128.1. Lu. 11.28.
33nHear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
n Is. 55.1,3; 46.12,13. Re. 22.17. Ro. 10.17. He. 2.1,3; 10.26,29.
34oBlessed is the man that heareth me, pwatching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
o Mat. 7.24. Lu. 11.28. ch. 3.13. p Lu. 1.6; 10.39. ch. 1.21; 8.3. Ps. 84.1,2,10.
35For qwhoso findeth me rfindeth life, and shall 8obtain favour of the LORD.
8Heb. bring forth.
q Phi. 3.8,9. Ro. 8.1,30-39. Col. 3.3. Ep. 1.6,7. Jn. 3.16,17; 6.51-57. 1Jn. 5.11,12. r ch. 21.21.
36But she that sinneth against me twrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me ulove death.
s He. 2.3; 10.27,29. Jn. 3.18,36. Ro. 6.23. t ch. 15.32; 20.2. u ch. 21.6; 29.24.