Proverbs 2:8-18

8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He 1preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern 2righteousness and justice And equity and every 3good course.
10 For 4wisdom will enter your heart And 5knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 Discretion will 6guard you, Understanding will watch over you,
12 To 7deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks 8perverse things;
13 From those who 9leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the 10ways of darkness;
14 Who 11delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15 Whose paths are 12crooked, And who are devious in their ways;
16 To 13deliver you from the strange woman, From the 14adulteress who flatters with her words;
17 That leaves the 15companion of her youth And forgets the 16covenant of her God;
18 For 17her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;

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 17

  • 1. 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalms 66:9
  • 2. Proverbs 8:20
  • 3. Proverbs 4:18
  • 4. Proverbs 14:33
  • 5. Proverbs 22:18
  • 6. Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 6:22
  • 7. Proverbs 28:26
  • 8. Proverbs 6:12
  • 9. Proverbs 21:16
  • 10. Psalms 82:5; Proverbs 4:19; John 3:19, 20
  • 11. Proverbs 10:23; Jeremiah 11:15
  • 12. Psalms 125:5; Proverbs 21:8
  • 13. Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 7:5
  • 14. Proverbs 23:27
  • 15. Malachi 2:14, 15
  • 16. Genesis 2:24
  • 17. Proverbs 7:27

Footnotes 3

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