1Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding? 2At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place; 3Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud: 4I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men. 5Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart. 6Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright. 7For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me. 8All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them. 9They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge. 10Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold. 11For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her. 12I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes. 13The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me. 14Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine. 15Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions. 16Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness. 17Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me. 18Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver. 20I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging: 21So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full. 22The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past. 23From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was. 24When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water. 25Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth: 26When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world. 27When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep: 28When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed: 29When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth: 30Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times; 31Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men. 32Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways. 33Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go. 34Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house. 35For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him. 36But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Christ, as Wisdom, calls to the sons of men. (1-11) The nature and riches of Wisdom. (12-21) Christ one with the Father, in the creation of the world, and rejoicing in his work for the salvation of man. (22-31) Exhortations to hear Christ's word. (32-36) 1-11 The will of God is made known by the works of creation, and by the consciences of men, but more clearly by Moses and the prophets. The chief difficulty is to get men to attend to instruction. Yet attention to the words of Christ, will guide the most ignorant into saving knowledge of the truth. Where there is an understanding heart, and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold. 12-21 Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word, and Christ in the heart; not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. All prudence and skill are from the Lord. Through the redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of his grace abound in all wisdom and prudence. Man found out many inventions for ruin; God found one for our recovery. He hates pride and arrogance, evil ways and froward conversation; these render men unwilling to hear his humbling, awakening, holy instructions. True religion gives men the best counsel in all difficult cases, and helps to make their way plain. His wisdom makes all truly happy who receive it in the love of Christ Jesus. Seek him early, seek him earnestly, seek him before any thing else. Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who love Christ, are such as have seen his loveliness, and have had his love shed abroad in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They shall be happy in this world, or in that which is beyond compare better. Wealth gotten by vanity will soon be diminished, but that which is well got, will wear well; and that which is well spent upon works of piety and charity, will be lasting. If they have not riches and honour in this world, they shall have that which is infinitely better. They shall be happy in the grace of God. Christ, by his Spirit, guides believers into all truth, and so leads them in the way of righteousness; and they walk after the Spirit. Also, they shall be happy in the glory of God hereafter. In Wisdom's promises, believers have goods laid up, not for days and years, but for eternity; her fruit therefore is better than gold. 22-31 The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world. How able, how fit is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall not we delight in his salvation? 32-36 Surely we should hearken to Christ's voice with the readiness of children. Let us all be wise, and not refuse such mercy. Blessed are those who hear the Saviour's voice, and wait on him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer. The children of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt of Wisdom's instructions, when people professing godliness, seek excuses for neglecting the means of grace? Christ is Wisdom, and he is Life to all believers; nor can we obtain God's favour, unless we find Christ, and are found in him. Those who offend Christ deceive themselves; sin is a wrong to the soul. Sinners die because they will die, which justifies God when he judges.