Proverbios 8

1 Llamado de la Sabiduría
¡Escuchen cuando la Sabiduría llama!
¡Oigan cuando el entendimiento alza su voz!

2 La Sabiduría toma su puesto en las encrucijadas,
en la cumbre de la colina, junto al camino.

3 Junto a las puertas de entrada a la ciudad,
en el camino de ingreso, grita con fuerza:

4 «¡A ustedes los llamo, a todos ustedes!
Levanto mi voz a toda persona.

5 Ustedes, ingenuos, usen el buen juicio.
Ustedes, necios, muestren un poco de entendimiento.

6 ¡Escúchenme! Tengo cosas importantes que decirles.
Todo lo que digo es correcto

7 pues hablo la verdad
y detesto toda clase de engaño.

8 Mi consejo es sano;
no tiene artimañas ni falsedad.

9 Mis palabras son obvias para todos los que tienen entendimiento,
claras para los que poseen conocimiento.

10 Elijan mi instrucción en lugar de la plata
y el conocimiento antes que el oro puro.

11 Pues la sabiduría es mucho más valiosa que los rubíes.
Nada de lo que uno pueda desear se compara con ella.

12 »Yo, la Sabiduría, convivo con el buen juicio.
Sé dónde encontrar conocimiento y discernimiento.

13 Todos los que temen al Señor
odiarán la maldad.
Por eso odio el orgullo y la arrogancia,
la corrupción y el lenguaje perverso.

14 El sentido común y el éxito me pertenecen.
La fuerza y la inteligencia son mías.

15 Gracias a mí reinan los reyes
y los gobernantes dictan decretos justos.

16 Los mandatarios gobiernan con mi ayuda
y los nobles emiten juicios justos.

17 »Amo a todos los que me aman.
Los que me buscan, me encontrarán.

18 Tengo riquezas y honor,
así como justicia y prosperidad duraderas.

19 ¡Mis dones son mejores que el oro, aun el oro más puro;
mi paga es mejor que la plata refinada!

20 Camino en rectitud,
por senderos de justicia.

21 Los que me aman heredan riquezas;
llenaré sus cofres de tesoros.

22 »El Señor
me formó desde el comienzo,
antes de crear cualquier otra cosa.

23 Fui nombrada desde la eternidad,
en el principio mismo, antes de que existiera la tierra.

24 Nací antes de que los océanos fueran creados,
antes de que brotara agua de los manantiales.

25 Antes de que se formaran las montañas,
antes que las colinas, yo nací,

26 antes de que el Señor
hiciera la tierra y los campos
y los primeros puñados de tierra.

27 Estaba presente cuando él estableció los cielos,
cuando trazó el horizonte sobre los océanos.

28 Estaba ahí cuando colocó las nubes arriba,
cuando estableció los manantiales en lo profundo de la tierra.

29 Estaba ahí cuando puso límites a los mares,
para que no se extendieran más allá de sus márgenes.
Y también cuando demarcó los cimientos de la tierra,

30 era la arquitecta a su lado.
Yo era su constante deleite,
y me alegraba siempre en su presencia.

31 ¡Qué feliz me puse con el mundo que él creó;
cuánto me alegré con la familia humana!

32 »Y ahora, hijos míos, escúchenme,
pues todos los que siguen mis caminos son felices.

33 Escuchen mi instrucción y sean sabios;
no la pasen por alto.

34 ¡Alegres son los que me escuchan,
y están atentos a mis puertas día tras día,
y me esperan afuera de mi casa!

35 Pues todo el que me encuentra, halla la vida
y recibe el favor del Señor
.

36 Pero el que no me encuentra se perjudica a sí mismo.
Todos los que me odian aman la muerte».

Proverbios 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

Christ, as Wisdom, calls to the sons of men. (1-11) The nature and riches of Wisdom. (12-21) Christ one with the Father, in the creation of the world, and rejoicing in his work for the salvation of man. (22-31) Exhortations to hear Christ's word. (32-36)

Verses 1-11 The will of God is made known by the works of creation, and by the consciences of men, but more clearly by Moses and the prophets. The chief difficulty is to get men to attend to instruction. Yet attention to the words of Christ, will guide the most ignorant into saving knowledge of the truth. Where there is an understanding heart, and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold.

Verses 12-21 Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word, and Christ in the heart; not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. All prudence and skill are from the Lord. Through the redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of his grace abound in all wisdom and prudence. Man found out many inventions for ruin; God found one for our recovery. He hates pride and arrogance, evil ways and froward conversation; these render men unwilling to hear his humbling, awakening, holy instructions. True religion gives men the best counsel in all difficult cases, and helps to make their way plain. His wisdom makes all truly happy who receive it in the love of Christ Jesus. Seek him early, seek him earnestly, seek him before any thing else. Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who love Christ, are such as have seen his loveliness, and have had his love shed abroad in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They shall be happy in this world, or in that which is beyond compare better. Wealth gotten by vanity will soon be diminished, but that which is well got, will wear well; and that which is well spent upon works of piety and charity, will be lasting. If they have not riches and honour in this world, they shall have that which is infinitely better. They shall be happy in the grace of God. Christ, by his Spirit, guides believers into all truth, and so leads them in the way of righteousness; and they walk after the Spirit. Also, they shall be happy in the glory of God hereafter. In Wisdom's promises, believers have goods laid up, not for days and years, but for eternity; her fruit therefore is better than gold.

Verses 22-31 The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world. How able, how fit is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall not we delight in his salvation?

Verses 32-36 Surely we should hearken to Christ's voice with the readiness of children. Let us all be wise, and not refuse such mercy. Blessed are those who hear the Saviour's voice, and wait on him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer. The children of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt of Wisdom's instructions, when people professing godliness, seek excuses for neglecting the means of grace? Christ is Wisdom, and he is Life to all believers; nor can we obtain God's favour, unless we find Christ, and are found in him. Those who offend Christ deceive themselves; sin is a wrong to the soul. Sinners die because they will die, which justifies God when he judges.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 8

This chapter contains the instructions of Wisdom or Christ; showing the excellency of them, and the author of them, in opposition to the harlot and her allurements, in the preceding chapter. Christ, under the name of Wisdom, is represented as an herald, publishing the Gospel in the ministry of the word, either in person or by his servants, Pr 8:1. The places where this proclamation is made are described, Pr 8:2,3; the persons to whom, Pr 8:4,5. The excellency of the things delivered, being right things; truth, agreeably to the word of God, plain and easy to be understood, and of more worth than gold, silver, and precious stones, Pr 8:6-11. And then Wisdom, or Christ, is commended and recommended by his consummate prudence and knowledge, by his hatred of evil, and by his influence on the political affairs of kings and princes, Pr 8:12-16; and the advantages of those that are early seekers of him are pointed out; their enjoyment of his favour, of his riches, honour and righteousness; and their being led by him in right paths now, and inheriting eternal glory hereafter, Pr 8:17-21. And next follows an account of his existence from eternity as a divine Person, illustrated by a variety of phrases, Pr 8:22-29; and of his being with the Father; of his great affection for him, and complacency in him; and of Christ's wonderful delight and pleasure in the sons of men, Pr 8:30,31. And the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to them to hearken to his instructions; setting forth the happiness of those that wait on him in public ordinances, and find him; and the misery of those that hate and reject him.