36 But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.
So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their hearts they will be made full.
He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.
And you will be full of grief at the end of your life, when your flesh and your body are wasted; And you will say, How was teaching hated by me, and my heart put no value on training;
The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes, and prisoned in the cords of his sin. He will come to his end for need of teaching; he is so foolish that he will go wandering from the right way.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
Put away all your evil-doing in which you have done sin; and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit: why are you desiring death, O children of Israel?
Say to them, By my life, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the evil-doer; it is more pleasing to me if he is turned from his way and has life: be turned, be turned from your evil ways; why are you looking for death, O children of Israel?
And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil. The light is hated by everyone whose acts are evil and he does not come to the light for fear that his acts will be seen.
He who has hate for me has hate for my Father. If I had not done among them the works which no other man ever did, they would have had no sin: but now they have seen, and they have had hate in their hearts for me and my Father.
If any man has not love for the Lord, let him be cursed. Maran atha (our Lord comes).
What will come on us, if we do not give our minds to such a great salvation? a salvation of which our fathers first had knowledge through the words of the Lord, and which was made certain to us by those to whom his words came;
But will not the man by whom the Son of God has been crushed under foot, and the blood of the agreement with which he was washed clean has been taken as an unholy thing, and who has had no respect for the Spirit of grace, be judged bad enough for a very much worse punishment?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 8
Commentary on Proverbs 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Pr 8:1-36. Contrasted with sensual allurements are the advantages of divine wisdom, which publicly invites men, offers the best principles of life, and the most valuable benefits resulting from receiving her counsels. Her relation to the divine plans and acts is introduced, as in Pr 3:19, 20, though more fully, to commend her desirableness for men, and the whole is closed by an assurance that those finding her find God's favor, and those neglecting ruin themselves. Many regard the passage as a description of the Son of God by the title, Wisdom, which the older Jews used (and by which He is called in Lu 11:49), as Joh 1:1, &c., describes Him by that of Logos, the Word. But the passage may be taken as a personification of wisdom: for, (1) Though described as with God, wisdom is not asserted to be God. (2) The use of personal attributes is equally consistent with a personification, as with the description of a real person. (3) The personal pronouns used accord with the gender (feminine) of wisdom constantly, and are never changed to that of the person meant, as sometimes occurs in a corresponding use of spirit, which is neuter in Greek, but to which masculine pronouns are often applied (Joh 16:14), when the acts of the Holy Spirit are described. (4) Such a personification is agreeable to the style of this book (compare Pr 1:20; 3:16, 17; 4:8; 6:20-22; 9:1-4), whereas no prophetical or other allusions to the Saviour or the new dispensation are found among the quotations of this book in the New Testament, and unless this be such, none exist. (5) Nothing is lost as to the importance of this passage, which still remains a most ornate and also solemn and impressive teaching of inspiration on the value of wisdom.
1-4. The publicity and universality of the call contrast with the secrecy and intrigues of the wicked (Pr 7:8, &c.).
5. wisdom—literally, "subtilty" in a good sense, or, "prudence."
fools—as Pr 1:22.
6. excellent things—or, "plain," "manifest."
opening … things—upright words.
7. For … truth—literally, "My palate shall meditate," or (as Orientals did) "mutter," my thoughts expressed only to myself are truth.
wickedness—specially falsehood, as opposed to truth.
8. in righteousness—or, "righteous" (Ps 9:8,11:7).
froward—literally, "twisted," or contradictory, that is, to truth.
9. plain … understandeth—easily seen by those who apply their minds.
that find—implying search.
10. not silver—preferable to it, so last clause implies comparison.
11. (Compare Pr 3:14, 15).
12. prudence—as in Pr 8:5. The connection of "wisdom" and "prudence" is that of the dictates of sound wisdom and its application.
find … inventions—or, "devices," "discreet ways" (Pr 1:4).
13. For such is the effect of the fear of God, by which hatred to evil preserves from it.
froward mouth—or, "speech" (Pr 2:12; 6:14).
14. It also gives the elements of good character in counsel.
sound wisdom—(Pr 2:7).
I … strength—or, "As for me, understanding is strength to me," the source of power (Ec 9:16); good judgment gives more efficiency to actions;
15, 16. of which a wisely conducted government is an example.
17. early—or, "diligently," which may include the usual sense of early in life.
18. durable riches … righteousness—Such are the "riches," enduring sources of happiness in moral possessions (compare Pr 3:16).
19. (Compare Pr 8:11; 3:16).
20, 21. The courses in which wisdom leads conduct to a true present prosperity (Pr 23:5).
22-31. Strictly, God's attributes are part of Himself. Yet, to the poetical structure of the whole passage, this commendation of wisdom is entirely consonant. In order of time all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself. But to set forth the importance of wisdom as devising the products of benevolence and power, it is here assigned a precedence. As it has such in divine, so should it be desired in human, affairs (compare Pr 3:19).
possessed—or, "created"; in either sense, the idea of precedence.
in the beginning—or simply, "beginning," in apposition with "me."
before … of old—preceding the most ancient deeds.
23. I was set up—ordained, or inaugurated (Ps 2:6). The other terms carry out the idea of the earliest antiquity, and illustrate it by the details of creation [Pr 8:24-29].
24. brought forth—(Compare Ps 90:2).
abounding—or, "laden with water."
25. settled—that is, sunk in foundations.
26. fields—or, "out places," "deserts," as opposite to (habitable) "world."
highest part—or, "sum," all particles together,
27. when he set … depth—marked out the circle, according to the popular idea of the earth, as circular, surrounded by depths on which the visible concave heavens rested.
28. established … deep—that is, so as to sustain the waters above and repress those below the firmament (Ge 1:7-11; Job 26:8).
29. commandment—better, the shore, that is, of the sea.
foundations—figuratively denotes the solid structure (Job 38:4; Ps 24:2).
30, 31. one brought up—an object of special and pleasing regard. The bestowal of wisdom on men is represented by its finding a delightful residence and pleasing God.
32-36. Such an attribute men are urged to seek.
34. watching … waiting—literally, "so as to watch"; wait, denoting a most sedulous attention.
35. (Compare Lu 13:23, 24).
36. sinneth … me—or better, "missing me," as opposed to "finding" [Pr 8:35].
love death—act as if they did (compare Pr 17:9).