Proverbios 8

Llamado de la sabiduría

1 ¿Acaso no está llamando la sabiduría?¿No está elevando su voz la inteligencia?

2 Toma su puesto en las alturas,a la vera del camino y en las encrucijadas.

3 Junto a las puertas que dan a la ciudad,a la entrada misma, grita a voz en cuello:

4 «A ustedes los hombres, los estoy llamando;dirijo mi voz a toda la humanidad.

5 Ustedes los inexpertos, ¡adquieran prudencia!Ustedes los necios, ¡obtengan discernimiento!

6 Escúchenme, que diré cosas importantes;mis labios hablarán lo correcto.

7 Mi boca expresará la verdad,pues mis labios detestan la mentira.

8 Las palabras de mi boca son todas justas;no hay en ellas maldad ni doblez.

9 Son claras para los entendidos,e irreprochables para los sabios.

10 Opten por mi instrucción, no por la plata;por el conocimiento, no por el oro refinado.

11 Vale más la sabiduría que las piedras preciosas,y ni lo más deseable se le compara.

12 »Yo, la sabiduría, convivo con la prudenciay poseo conocimiento y discreción.

13 Quien teme al SEÑOR aborrece lo malo;yo aborrezco el orgullo y la arrogancia,la mala conducta y el lenguaje perverso.

14 Míos son el consejo y el buen juicio;míos son el entendimiento y el poder.

15 Por mí reinan los reyesy promulgan leyes justas los gobernantes.

16 Por mí gobiernan los príncipesy todos los nobles que rigen la tierra.^[a]

17 A los que me aman, les correspondo;a los que me buscan, me doy a conocer.

18 Conmigo están las riquezas y la honra,la prosperidad^[b] y los bienes duraderos.

19 Mi fruto es mejor que el oro fino;mi cosecha sobrepasa a la plata refinada.

20 Voy por el camino de la rectitud,por los senderos de la justicia,

21 enriqueciendo a los que me amany acrecentando sus tesoros.

22 »El SEÑOR me dio la vida^[c] como primicia de sus obras,^[d]mucho antes de sus obras de antaño.

23 Fui establecida desde la eternidad,desde antes que existiera el mundo.

24 No existían los grandes mares cuando yo nací;no había entonces manantiales de abundantes aguas.

25 Nací antes que fueran formadas las colinas,antes que se cimentaran las montañas,

26 antes que él creara la tierra y sus paisajesy el polvo primordial con que hizo el mundo.

27 Cuando Dios cimentó la bóveda celestey trazó el horizonte sobre las aguas,allí estaba yo presente.

28 Cuando estableció las nubes en los cielosy reforzó las fuentes del mar profundo;

29 cuando señaló los límites del mar,para que las aguas obedecieran su mandato;cuando plantó los fundamentos de la tierra,

30 allí estaba yo, afirmando su obra.Día tras día me llenaba yo de alegría,siempre disfrutaba de estar en su presencia;

31 me regocijaba en el mundo que él creó;¡en el género humano me deleitaba!

32 »Y ahora, hijos míos, escúchenme:dichosos los que van por^[e] mis caminos.

33 Atiendan a mi instrucción, y sean sabios;no la descuiden.

34 Dichosos los que me escuchany a mis puertas están atentos cada día,esperando a la entrada de mi casa.

35 En verdad, quien me encuentra, halla la viday recibe el favor del SEÑOR.

36 Quien me rechaza, se perjudica a sí mismo;quien me aborrece, ama 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "y todos los nobles que rigen la tierra " (varios mss. hebreos y LXX); "y nobles, todos jueces justos " (TM).
• [b]. "prosperidad" . Lit. "justicia" .
• [c]. "me dio la vida" . Alt. "era mi dueño" .
• [d]. "obras" . Lit. "caminos" .
• [e]. "van por" . Lit. "guardan" .

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.