Proverbs 2:2-12

2 1Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as 2silver And search for her as for 3hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the 4fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For 5the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a 6shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He 7preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern 8righteousness and justice And equity and every 9good course.
10 For 10wisdom will enter your heart And 11knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 Discretion will 12guard you, Understanding will watch over you,
12 To 13deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks 14perverse things;

Proverbs 2:2-12 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 14

  • 1. Proverbs 22:17
  • 2. Proverbs 3:14
  • 3. Job 3:21; Matthew 13:44
  • 4. Proverbs 1:7
  • 5. 1 Kings 3:12; Job 32:8; James 1:5
  • 6. Psalms 84:11; Proverbs 30:5
  • 7. 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalms 66:9
  • 8. Proverbs 8:20
  • 9. Proverbs 4:18
  • 10. Proverbs 14:33
  • 11. Proverbs 22:18
  • 12. Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 6:22
  • 13. Proverbs 28:26
  • 14. Proverbs 6:12

Footnotes 1

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