1The study of wisdom tendeth to promote godliness, 10to guard against the seducing of sinners, 20and to direct men in good and salutary ways.
1MY1 son, if thou wilt receive my words, and 2hide my commandments with thee;
1 From the 22nd verse of the previous chapter unto this verse, Solomon related the words of Wisdom. Now he speaks again in his own person, as may be gathered by comparing the 10th and 15th verse of the previous chapter.
2 Namely, as a treasure and necessary commodity. See Job 23 on verse 12. Likewise verse 7 below.
2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to 3understanding;
3Wisdom and understanding are all but one thing. What is now understanding, see Prov. 1 on verse 2.
34Yea, if thou 5criest after knowledge, and 6liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 The Hebrew particle is so taken 2 Kings 18:34.
5 That is, seek to obtain it with all diligence. It is a similitude borrowed from him who, having great need of someone, seeks by earnest and steadfast crying to get this person near to himself.
6 Hebr. givest. Also Prov. 1:20.
4Ifa thou seekest her as 7silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
a Mat. 13:44.
7 Compare Mat. 13:44, 45, 46.
5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and 8find the knowledge of God.
8 Namely, by God’s gracious illumination, James 1:5, those, who by lawful means endeavor after good things, it permits them to find it. For this word find has respect or relation to the word seekest, mentioned in the previous verse. Compare Prov. 3:13 and the annotation.
6Forb the LORD giveth wisdom: 9out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
b 1 Kings 3:9, 12; James 1:5.
9 That is, out of His gracious goodwill and pleasure, and by the revelation of His Holy Word; for, the mouth of God in Scripture signifies sometimes His goodwill and pleasure, Deut. 8:3, sometimes the revelation thereof, Num. 9:18; Psalm 119:72.
7He layeth up 10sound wisdom for the righteous: 11he is a buckler to them that walk 12uprightly.
10 Or, a sure estate. The Hebrew word signifies properly what is essential, sure and permanent. Understand here, either the true wisdom and a firm doctrine of truth which is opposed to the vain and empty knowledge of this world, or the eternal, celestial good, which is opposed to the momentary and transitory things of this earth. See of the Hebrew word further, Job 5 on verse 12, and compare Psalm 37 on verse 3.
11 Namely, the Lord. See Gen. 15 on verse 1. Others understand by this shield or buckler the true and sound wisdom, and the doctrine of salvation. Compare Psalm 91:4.
12 That is, to them who live a true, unfeigned, godly life. See also 1 Kings 9:4; Psalm 26:11; Prov. 10:9; 20:7; 28:6, etc. Likewise see Gen. 20 on verse 5.
8He keepeth 13the paths of judgment, and 14preserveth the way of his 15saints.
13 That is, constantly follow the rule of God’s Word, which teaches them what they are to believe and how they ought to live. Compare Gen. 18 on verse 19. These paths are also called the paths of uprightness, verse 13, the paths of life, verse 19, the way of good men and the paths of righteousness, verse 20, and in right paths Prov. 4:11, etc. See further 1 Kings 8 on verse 36.
14 Compare Psalm 1 on verse 6.
15 See of the signification of the Hebrew word rendered here saints, 2 Chron. 6 on verse 41; Psalm 4:3.
9Then shalt thou understand 16righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every 17good path.
16 See of these three words Prov. 1 on verse 3.
17 Hebr. every track of good, that is, every way that leads unto what is good. The Hebrew word signifies properly the print or furrow of a cartwheel, or, the track of a cartwheel made in the ground, but is by way of similitude used to signify the way of men, that is, of their conduct in life, their doing and omitting. See verse 15; Psalm 23:3; Prov. 4:11; 5:21; Isa. 26:7.
10¶When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11Discretion shall 18preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
18 That is, keep with singular diligence and carefulness, as the Hebrew phrase here imports, and is also found in 1 Sam. 26:16; Prov. 6:22.
12To deliver thee from the way of the 19evil man, from the man that speaketh 20froward things;
19 Understand all kinds of false faith and wicked works, opposite and repugnant to the rule of God’s Word and leading to destruction; which is likewise called in Psalm 119:101; Prov. 8:13; 28:10. Likewise the way of falsehood Psalm 119:29, the way of sinners Psalm 1:1, the way that is not good Prov. 16:29, and later in verse 13 the ways of darkness, also the wicked way, Ezek. 3:18.
20 That is, things which are contrary to the truth of doctrine and the righteousness of life. Also in verse 14; Deut. 32:20; Prov. 6:14; 8:13; 10:31, 32, etc.
13Who 21leave 22the paths of uprightness, 23to walk in the ways of darkness;
21 Compare 2 Chron. 12 on verse 1.
22 See on verse 8.
23 That is, to live in unbelief, error, willful sin, uneasiness of mind, vexation and misery. Thus the word darkness is taken for all kinds of evil that is in the understanding, in the will, in the affections, in words and deeds and in the entire course of man’s life. Compare Eccl. 2:14; Isa. 9:2; Rom. 2:19; Eph. 5:8, 11.
14Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of 24the wicked;
24 Namely, either of person or of works.
1525Whose ways are 26crooked, and they 27froward in their paths:
25 Namely, the paths of those who leave and forsake uprightness, etc., of whom was spoken in the two previous verses.
26 That is, erroneous and going awry, erring and going astray from the right and straight rule of faith and life.
27 Namely, from the right and good way. Also Prov. 3:32; 14:2.
1628To deliver thee from the 29strange woman, even fromc the stranger 30which flattereth with her words;
28 This verse depends on the previous 11th verse.
29 That is, which is not your own, but another man’s wife; and by her infidelity, wicked life and adulterous carriage, pertains not to the true people of God. Wherefore she is also called an outlandish or unknown woman. Also Prov. 5:3; 6:24; 7:5.
c Prov. 5:3; 6:24; 7:5.
30 Or, who maketh her speeches trim and neat, or, uttereth smooth or entreating words, whereby she entices men in a wanton and unchaste manner. Compare Prov. 5:3; 6:24; 7:5.
17Which forsaketh the 31guide of her youth, and forgetteth 32the covenant of her God.
31 That is, her lawful husband, whom she married in her youth and who is her head and governor.
32 That is, the promised conjugal fidelity, which is called the covenant of God, not only because marriage was instituted and ordained by God, but also because God therein joins man and wife together, and is a Witness and Beholder of such an engagement, as being made and done before Him. See Mal. 2:14, etc.
1833For her house inclineth 34unto death, and her paths unto the 35dead.
33 This verse is connected to the previous 16th verse. As if he had said: I have not shown in vain that wisdom would deliver you from the strange woman; for this is an exceeding great benefit, because the strange woman leads men unto death.
34 The meaning is: that the punishment for adultery is man’s utter ruin and destruction, both in soul and body. It is a similitude borrowed from an inclining or bending wall which is nigh to its ruin or fall.
35 The Hebrew word, which sometimes signifies giants, is taken here for men who are dead, deceased, or departed out of this life. See Job 26 on verse 5.
19None that go 36unto her 37return again, neither take they hold of the paths 38of life.
36 See Gen. 6 on verse 4.
37 Namely, from the way of death which they have entered into by sin of adultery.
38 That is, which lead unto life. So Prov. 5:6; 6:23; 15:24.
2039That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the 40paths of the 41righteous.
39 This verse is connected to the previous 11th verse: Discretion shall preserve thee, etc., or to the 16th verse: To deliver thee from the …, etc.
40 That is, the examples of the godly, who have known and have feared God aright. These are commended unto us in the Scripture for our imitation, and not those who give up themselves unto uncleanness or to other sins.
41 These (namely, the righteous) are contrasted everywhere in this book to wicked and ungodly men, who know not God nor obey Him.
21Ford the upright 42shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall 43remain in it.
d Psalm 37:29.
42 Compare Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34 and the annotation at Psalm 37 on verse 29.
43 Namely, not only in general, because there shall always remain a church and people of God, but also in particular, because God will never leave any of those, who are His, into what strait so ever they come, but will continually follow them with His blessing even unto death.
22Bute the wicked 44shall be cut off from the earth, and the 45transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
e Job 18:17; Psalm 104:35.
44 Their death is a visible destruction, because they, living in great prosperity and pleasure, are suddenly taken away from the earth and reserved unto everlasting destruction. Compare Psalm 37:2, 9, etc.
45 Understand by them who by great and willful injustice transgress and violate the duty which they owe unto God or their neighbor. Compare 1 Sam 15:18; and the annotations at Psalm 1 on verse 1.