Proverbs 19:8

8 To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper.

Proverbs 19:8 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:8

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul
Wisdom and knowledge in things natural and civil; and especially in things divine, spiritual, and evangelical; particularly he that gets Christ, the Wisdom of God, and a saving knowledge of him; see ( Proverbs 3:13 ) . Or, "he that getteth a heart" F16; a good heart, as the Targum explains it; which is a new heart, and a new spirit; a clean heart and a right spirit; a heart of flesh, a soft, tender, and contrite one, in opposition to a hard heart, a heart of stone: a wise and understanding heart, such an one as Solomon had; a heart to know the Lord, and to fear him; in which his laws are written, the graces of his Spirit are implanted; and in which God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, dwell: he who is desirous of such a he art seeks after it, prays for it, and uses all means to obtain it; and who, through the grace of God; does possess it, as the word signifies; he by all this shows that he has a regard to the good and welfare of his immortal soul; when such, who indulge to ignorance and a wicked heart, wrong and hate their own souls; see ( Proverbs 29:24 ) ; he that keepeth understanding shall find good;
retains the wisdom he has got; holds fast instruction, and keeps it, which is committed to him; abides by the doctrines of the Gospel, and does not depart from them; keeps the ordinances of it, which it is his wisdom and understanding to do; see ( Deuteronomy 4:6 ) ; he finds his account in all this; he finds that which is good, good for him now and hereafter; he finds Christ, and life in him; peace, joy, and comfort in this world: and, in the world to come, glory, honour, and happiness.


FOOTNOTES:

F16 (bl) "cor", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus

Proverbs 19:8 In-Context

6 Many seek the favor of the generous, and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
7 If the poor are hated even by their kin, how much more are they shunned by their friends! When they call after them, they are not there.
8 To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and the liar will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.