Proverbs 2:8-18

8 in order to guard the courses of justice and preserve the way of those faithful to him.

9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, fairness and every good path.

10 For wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will be enjoyable for you,

11 discretion will watch over you, and discernment will guard you.

12 They will save you from the way of evil and from those who speak deceitfully,

13 who leave the paths of honesty to walk the ways of darkness,

14 who delight in doing evil and take joy in being stubbornly deceitful,

15 from those whose tracks are twisted and whose paths are perverse.

16 They will save you from a woman who is a stranger, from a loose woman with smooth talk,

17 who abandons the ruler she had in her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.

18 Her house is sinking toward death, her paths 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.