Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? Ver. 1. _Doth not wisdom cry?_] And shall a harlot be sooner heard than she? Shall men prefer dross before gold, acorns before wheat, a swinesty before a sanctuary, dirty delights and sensual pleasures before peace that passeth all underst... [ Continue Reading ]
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. Ver. 2. _She standeth in the top of high places._] That is, saith an interpreter, In the lofty oracles of the patriarchs and prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Ver. 3. _At the entry of the city._] Heb., At the mouth; for as words go out of the mouth, so do men out of the city; only men go and come at their pleasure. _Sed volat emissum semel irrevocabile verbum,_ _a_ - A word... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man. Ver. 4. _Unto you, O men, I call._] _O viri praestantes,_ - so some render it, O ye eminent men, whether for greatness of birth, wealth, or learning. The Pharisees and philosophers, for their learning, are called the "princes of this wo... [ Continue Reading ]
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Ver. 5. _O ye simple._] If ye be not set in sin, resolved of your way, as good as ye mean to be; if yet there be any place left for persuasion. _See Trapp on "_ Pro 1:4 _"_ And ye fools.] Ye that have already made your... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things. Ver. 6. _I will speak of excellent things._] ηγεμονικα; ruling cases, master sentences, axioms of state, principles for princes. "I have written for them the great things of my law." Hos 8:12 Solomon cal... [ Continue Reading ]
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips. Ver. 7. _For my month shall speak truth._] Heb., Shall meditate truth; _i.e., _ I will neither speak falsely nor rashly, but upon due deliberation and undoubted certainty. See my "True Treasure," p. 122.... [ Continue Reading ]
All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them. Ver. 8. _All the words._] The Rabbis have a saying, that there is a mountain of sense hanging upon every tittle of the Scriptures. _ There is nothing froward or perverse in them._] Some places of Scri... [ Continue Reading ]
They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Ver. 9. _They are all plain to him that understandeth._] Plain in things necessary to salvation; for as all duties, so all truths do not concern all men. God doth not expect or require that every man should be a... [ Continue Reading ]
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. Ver. 10. _Receive mine instruction, and not money._] That is, Rather than money; as, "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice" - that is, rather than sacrifice. Knowledge of the Scriptures is the greatest riches. "Let the w... [ Continue Reading ]
_For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it._ Ver. 11. _For wisdom is better than rubies._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 3:15 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. Ver. 12. _I wisdom dwell with prudence._] I draw all into practice, and teach men to prove by their own experience, what "that good, and holy, and acceptable will of God is." Rom 12:2 Of the most that would be held knowing me... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate._ Ver. 13. _The fear of the Lord._] Which is a high point of heavenly wisdom, Pro 1:7 to the praise whereof this therefore appertaineth. There are those who make this verse an explanati... [ Continue Reading ]
Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength. Ver. 14. _Counsel is mine, &c._] Christ is "wise in heart, and mighty in strength," Job 9:4 his Church's both counsellor Isa 9:6 and champion; Isa 37:23-24 and though she be but a "virgin daughter of Zion," yet she despiset... [ Continue Reading ]
_By me kings reign, and princes decree justice._ Ver. 15. _By me kings reign._] How, then, can the schoolmen defend Thomas Aquinas in that paradox, _Dominium et praelatio introducta sunt ex iure humane; _ _a_ dominion and government is of man? This crosseth the apostle, Rom 13:1-2 and the wisest of... [ Continue Reading ]
_By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth._ Ver. 16. _And nobles._] So called in the original, from their liberality and bounty. Hence Luk 22:25 this word is expressed by Eυεργεται, Bountiful, or benefactors, such as are ingenuous, free, munificent, endued with that free p... [ Continue Reading ]
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Ver. 17. _I love them that love me._] The philosopher could say, that if moral virtue could be seen with mortal eyes, she would stir up wonderful loves of herself in the hearts of the beholders. How much more, then, would the "wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea], durable riches and righteousness. Ver. 18. _Riches and honour are with me._] I come not unaccompanied, but bring with me that which is well worth having. The muses, though Jupiter's daughters, and well deserving, yet are said to have had no suitors, because t... [ Continue Reading ]
_My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver._ Ver. 19. _My fruit is better than gold._] This wisdom is as those two golden pipes Zec 4:12 through which the two olive branches do empty out of themselves the golden oils of all precious graces into the candl... [ Continue Reading ]
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: Ver. 20. _I lead in the way of righteousness._] Which is to say, I got not my wealth _per fas atque nefas,_ by right and wrong, by wrench and wile. My riches are not the riches of unrighteousness, "the mammon of iniquity"; L... [ Continue Reading ]
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. Ver. 21. _To inherit substance._] Heb., That which is; that which hath some tack or substance in it, some firmity, or solid consistency. "Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?" Outward things are n... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. Ver. 22. _The Lord possessed me._] Not created me, _a_ as the Arians out of the Septuagint pressed it, to prove Christ a creature. _ Before his works of old._] Heb., _Ante opera sua, ante tunc; id est, priusquam quis dicer... [ Continue Reading ]
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. Ver. 23. _I was set up._] _Coronata sum; _ I was crowned; so some render it. _Inuncta fui,_ I was anointed - so others - for king, priest, and prophet of my Church. And to this high honour I grew not up by degrees, but had it... [ Continue Reading ]
When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water. Ver. 24. _When there were no depths._] In mentioning God's works of creation, some observe here, that wisdom proceeds from the lower elements to the superior and heavenly bodies: she begins with t... [ Continue Reading ]
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: Ver. 25. _Was I brought forth._] Or, Begotten. Thus wisdom describes her eternity in human words and expressions, for our better apprehension. Which while Arius either knew not, or weighed not, he herehence took occasion to op... [ Continue Reading ]
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. Ver. 26. _Nor the fields, nor the highest._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 8:24 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: Ver. 27. _When he prepared the heavens._] Or, Caused them to be prepared, took order to have it done, viz., by me, who was with him, and "by whom he made the worlds." Hebrews 1:1,14 _: 3 John 1:3_ Col 1:1... [ Continue Reading ]
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: Ver. 28. _When he established the clouds above._] That they might be kept there, as it were in tuns and bottles, till he would have them to pour down their dew, or rain.... [ Continue Reading ]
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Ver. 29. _When he appointed the foundations._] That it should remain unmoveable, though it hang in the air, as it were by geometry. “ _Terra pilae similis nullo fulc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;_ Ver. 30. _Then I was by him._] Accursed then for ever be that blasphemous assertion of the Arians, ην οταν ουκ ην, There was a time when he was not. This scripture, so much abused by the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men._ Ver. 31. _Rejoicing in the habitable part._] That is, In the human nature, wherein the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily, by means of the hypostatical union. Or, In the saints, whose hearts the Lord Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways. Ver. 32. _Now therefore hearken unto me._] _Audite senem iuvenes,_ said Augustus to his seditious soldiers, and had audience: and shall not wisdom, that is so ancient, as before the creation, so eminent, as to m... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Ver. 33. _Hear instruction, and be wise._] This way wisdom enters into the soul. Hear, therefore, for else there is no hope; hear, howsoever. Augustine, coming to Ambrose to have his ears tickled, had his heart touched.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Ver. 34. _Waiting at the posts of my doors._] At the schools and synagogues, say the Hebrews, where men should come in with the first, and go forth with the last, as doorkeepers do, which was the off... [ Continue Reading ]
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. Ver. 35. _For whoso findeth me, findeth life._] Lest any man should hold it too hard a task to wait at wisdom's gates - as princes' guards, or as the Levites did in the temple - she tells them what they shall have for so doing.... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. Ver. 36. _Wrongeth his own soul._] _Rapit animam suam._ He plunders his own soul of its happiness; yea, he cruelly cuts the throat thereof, being ambitious of his own destruction.... [ Continue Reading ]