Prov. 8 Wisdom’s fame, call, and exhortation, Prov. 8:1–9. Her excellency, nature, and hatred of evil, Prov. 8:10–13. Her power, Prov. 8:14–16; and love to the godly, Prov. 8:17. Her riches, Prov. 8:18–19. Her eternity, Prov. 8:20–30. Her delight in the children of men, Prov. 8:31.

Put forth her voice; clearly and audibly instruct men how to avoid those fleshly lusts. He opposeth the inviting words of wisdom to the seducing speeches of the harlot.

In the top of high places, where she may be best seen and heard; not in corners and in the dark, as the harlot did. In the places of the paths; where many paths meet, where there is a great concourse, and where travellers may need direction.

At the gates; the places of judgment, and of the confluence of people. At the entry of the city, to invite passengers at their first coming, and to conduct them to her house. At the coming in at the doors, to wit, of her house, as the harlot stood at her door to invite lovers:

To all men without exception, even to the meanest, who are thus called, Ps. 49:2.

Ye simple; who want knowledge and experience, and are easily deceived. Ye fools; wilful and obstinate sinners.

Of excellent things, Heb. of princely things, worthy of princes to learn and practise them; or such as excel common things as much as princes do ordinary persons.

Shall speak, Heb. shall meditate, i.e. shall speak not rashly and hastily, but what I have well considered and digested. Is an abomination to my lips: I hate to speak it; therefore you may be assured that I shall not deceive you.

All the words of my mouth; all my precepts, promises, threatenings, &c. Nothing froward or perverse in them; not the least mixture of vanity, or error, or folly in them, as there is in the words of the wisest philosophers, &c.

Plain; evident and clear to their minds; or, right, just and good. To him that understandeth; either to him who with an honest mind applies himself to the study of them in the diligent use of all the means appointed by God to that end; or to him whose mind God hath enlightened by his Spirit, though…

And not silver, i.e. rather than silver, as such negative expressions are understood, Gen. 45:8, Ex. 16:8, Jer. 7:22, Jer. 16:14–15, and in many other places.

Dwell with prudence; I do not content myself with high speculations, but my inseparable companion is prudence, to govern all my own actions, and to direct the actions of others, by good counsels. This he saith, because some persons have much wit and knowledge, and nothing of discretion.

The fear of the Lord; which he had before noted to be the beginning of wisdom, Prov. 1:7. Is to hate evil; it consists in a careful abstinence from all sin, and that not from carnal or prudential motives, but from a true dislike and hatred of it.

Sound wisdom: all solid, and substantial, and useful, yea essential wisdom, is natural and essential to me, for the word properly signifies essence. I am understanding, or, my nature and essence, as was now said. Or, I am the author of understanding; as John 17:3. This is life eternal, i.e.

By me kings reign: either, 1. They get their kingdom by mine appointment and providence. Or rather, 2. They rule their kingdoms wisely, and justly, and happily, by my counsel and assistance; for this best suits with the next clause.

I love them that love me; I do not despise their love though it be but a small and inconsiderable thing to me but I kindly accept it, and will recompense it with my love and favour. That seek me early, i.e.

Which he mentions here, either, 1. As the best and surest way to get and to keep riches; for estates unjustly gotten quickly vanish, as is manifest both from Scripture and from common observation. Or, 2.

Keeping at an equal distance from both extremes, and from the very borders of them; which is called a putting away iniquity far from us, Job 22:23.

Substance; substantial, and true, and satisfying happiness; which is here opposed to all worldly enjoyments which are said not to be, Prov. 23:5; which are but mere shadows and dreams of felicity.

Possessed me, as his Son by eternal generation, who was from eternity with him, as is said, John 14:10; and in him, as he also was in me, John 14:10. In the beginning; yea, and before the beginning, as it is largely expressed in the following verses. Of his way; either, 1.

Set up, Heb. anointed; ordained or constituted to be the person by whom the Father resolved to do all his works, first to create, and then to uphold, and govern, and judge, and afterwards to redeem and save the world; all which works are particularly ascribed to the Son of God, as is manifest from…

No depths; no abyss or deep waters, either mixed with the earth, as they were at first, or separated from it. Brought forth; begotten of my Father’s essence.

Settled; or, fixed by their roots in the earth.

The earth, i.e. the dry land, called earth after it was separated from the waters, Gen. 1:10. The fields; the plain and open parts of the earth, distinguished from the mountains and hills, and the valleys enclosed between them.

I was there, not as an idle spectator, but as a co-worker with my Father. Of the depth, i.e. of that great and deep abyss of water and earth mixed together, which is called both earth and water, and the deep, Gen. 1:2.

Established, Heb. strengthened, by his word and decree, which alone upholds the clouds in the air, which of themselves are thin and weak bodies, and would quickly be dissolved or dispersed.

His decree; or, his bound or limits, to wit, those parts of the earth which border upon it. Not pass his commandment, i.e. not overflow the earth. Appointed, or laid, the foundations o the earth; either, 1. The centre of the earth; or, 2.

By him; conversant with him, and united to him, as was said before. As one brought up with him; as one tenderly and dearly beloved by him. Rejoicing always before him; he and I had constant, and intimate, and sweet converse together.

Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; in contemplating the wonderful wisdom and goodness of God in the making and ordering of all his creatures, and of man especially.

Now therefore; seeing I have such a true love to you, and seeing I am so thoroughly acquainted with my Father’s mind, and so excellently qualified to be your Counsellor and Ruler.

Or, do not make it void or unprofitable to you by your own sloth or wilfulness.

As servants, and clients, and others wait at the doors of princes or persons of eminency for place, or power, or wisdom, that they may be admitted to speak or converse with them.

He that sinneth against me, by the neglect or contempt of or rebellion against my commands, wrongeth his own soul; is guilty of self-murder and of soul-murder. They that hate me, i.e.