Proverbs 2:8-18

8 guarding the paths of justice and 1watching over the way of his 2saints.
9 3Then you will understand 4righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 5discretion will 6watch over you, understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to 7walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who 8rejoice in doing evil and 9delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose 10paths are crooked, 11and who are 12devious in their ways.
16 So 13you will be delivered from the forbidden[a] woman, from 14the adulteress[b] with 15her smooth words,
17 who forsakes 16the companion of her youth and forgets 17the covenant of her God;
18 18for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed;[c]

Proverbs 2:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 2

This chapter directs to the means of attaining to the knowledge of divine things, and shows the profit and advantage arising from thence. The means are, embracing the doctrines of the Gospel, and retaining in memory and affection the ordinances of it, Pr 2:1; and an inclination of the ear and an application of the heart to the knowledge of these things, Pr 2:2. An earnest and importunate desire, expressed by prayer, after the same, Pr 2:3; and a diligent and unwearied search for them, as for silver and hid treasure, Pr 2:4. The advantages are, that such shall attain to the fear and knowledge of God; which may be concluded from these being the gift of God to his people, and from their being laid up for them, whom he carefully keeps and preserves, Pr 2:5-8; and not only so, but such learn to do that which is just and right among men, Pr 2:9. And, besides, such is the nature of divine wisdom, that, when it has once got a place in the heart and in the affections, it will be a means of preserving both from the ways of evil men, Pr 2:10-12; who are described, Pr 2:13-15. And from the evil woman, whose character is given, Pr 2:16,17; whose vicious course of life, and the ways she leads persons into, are represented as very dangerous, Pr 2:18,19. And, on the contrary, such is the usefulness of true wisdom, that it leads into the way of good men, who will be happy and safe, when the wicked shall be destroyed, Pr 2:20-22.

Cross References 18

  • 1. 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalms 66:9; Psalms 97:10
  • 2. See Psalms 30:4
  • 3. [ver. 5]
  • 4. Proverbs 1:3
  • 5. Proverbs 1:4
  • 6. Proverbs 6:22
  • 7. Psalms 82:5; [John 3:19, 20]
  • 8. Jeremiah 11:15; [Proverbs 10:23]
  • 9. [Psalms 50:18; Romans 1:32]
  • 10. Psalms 125:5; [Proverbs 21:8]
  • 11. Proverbs 14:2
  • 12. Proverbs 3:32
  • 13. Proverbs 7:5
  • 14. Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 23:27
  • 15. Proverbs 6:24; Psalms 5:9
  • 16. Jeremiah 3:4; [Psalms 55:13]
  • 17. [Malachi 2:14, 15]
  • 18. Proverbs 7:27

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.