Proverbs 8:13-17

3). Wisdom Hates Evil Attitudes And Behaviour But Enables Just Government From Those Who Love Her (Proverbs 8:13).

This subsection which majors on wisdom's role in ensuring just government where she is accepted, commences with an indication of YHWH's attitude towards it and the impression that all rulers are to rule in the light of it. The fear of YHWH results in hating evil. And this includes hating pride, arrogance, behaving in an evil way, and speaking with a perverse mouth. These were very much the general attributes of bad rulers, although not limited to them. But for those who love her, and diligently seek her, wisdom is able to supply counsel, sound knowledge and understanding, thus enabling them to rule and judge justly. So in Solomon's eyes even foreign kings are reliant on YHWH to enable them to govern justly. His faith knew no boundaries, as befitted the man who could say, ‘heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You' (1 Kings 8:27).

The subsection is presented chiastically:

A The fear of YHWH is to hate evil, pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate (Proverbs 8:13).

B Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge, I am understanding, I have might (Proverbs 8:14).

B By me kings reign, and princes decree justice, by me rulers govern, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth (Proverbs 8:15).

A I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me (Proverbs 8:17).

Note that in A wisdom hates evil: pride and arrogance, the evil way and the perverse mouth, all especially characteristics of rulers. In the parallel she loves those who love her and find her through seeking her diligently. In B she has counsel, sound knowledge, understanding and might, and in the parallel good rulers and judges operate through her counsel fostering justice.

Proverbs 8:13

The fear of YHWH is to hate evil,

Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way,

And the perverse mouth, do I hate.”

The world is full of ‘rulers', some evil and corrupt, and some good and just, with a lot of rulers in between, and so the subsection commences with YHWH's view of corrupt rulers, although it is not, of course, limited to rulers. Pride, arrogance, following the way of evil and speaking perversely are all characteristics of forceful men whether in politics or in business (see Proverbs 16:19 where the wise avoid them). To fear YHWH is to hate evil, and that is precisely because YHWH Himself hates evil. And because hating evil is a product of the fear of YHWH, evil is hated by Wisdom, for what she teaches is in line with the fear of YHWH. We can have no clearer indication that wisdom in Proverbs is very much related to YHWH than these words. Wisdom in Proverbs is inculcating, not humanistic wisdom, but YHWH's wisdom.

Wisdom expands on what the evil is that is to be hated, especially in rulers. It is pride, arrogance, following the way of evil (i.e. not aiming at the good of people in general) and being deceitful and dishonest, and possibly rebellious against YHWH, in what is spoken. They reflect the haughty eyes and lying tongue that God hates (Proverbs 6:17), and the perverse mouth of the worthless man (Proverbs 6:12; compare Proverbs 2:12). All these attributes are reflected in Isaiah 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29, where it is the leaders of Moab who were in mind. Compare the high looks and boastful words of the Assyrian king in Isaiah 10:12. They were the attributes of many rulers as revealed in Scripture and inscriptions. They are the attributes of many politicians today. Those who should be a pattern for good are so often a very bad example, or worse, for power corrupts.

Proverbs 8:14

“Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge,

I am understanding, I have might,

By me kings reign,

And princes decree justice,

By me rulers govern,

And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

I love those who love me,

And those who seek me diligently will find me.”

In contrast to what Wisdom hates (evil), is what Wisdom loves. She loves those who love her, that is who eagerly hear her and follow her instruction. Here then she speaks of those who respond to her. To them she gives counsel and sound knowledge in all that they do in war and peace, for basically she ‘is understanding'. That is her very nature. And she has might as revealed by her influence on kings, rulers and governors. For by her kings reign, princes decree justice, rulers govern, as do also nobles. She influences all the judges of the earth (and kings and governors were the premier judges). Note the assumption that all who rule or judge wisely owe it to YHWH and His wisdom. He disseminates it to all whose hearts are right and who seek it. There were very few rulers who were totally corrupt.

It is noteworthy that both this and the following subsection end with describing Wisdom's response to those who love her. For those who love Wisdom receive the benefits of doing so. She pours out her spirit to them, she makes known her words to them (Proverbs 1:23). Thus to love Wisdom is to love oneself in the right way. It impacts on every part of life. As Solomon said earlier of Wisdom, ‘do not forsake her and she will preserve you. Love her and she will guard you' (Proverbs 4:6). Wisdom is to be loved in the same way as the strange woman is not. Note that she was to be ‘sought diligently'. Men should read, mark, learn and inwardly digest her. Then they would receive her fruit in their lives. Paul's words are relevant here, ‘study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth' (2 Timothy 2:15).