TO FEAR THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL

Passage: Proverbs 8:1-21

Key verse: 13

NIV

Wisdom’s Call

8 Does not wisdom call out?(A)
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:(B)
4 “To you, O people, I call out;(C)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,(F)
    for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,(G)
11 for wisdom is more precious(H) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(I)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(J)
13 To fear the Lord(K) is to hate evil;(L)
    I hate(M) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(N)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(O) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(P)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(Q)
    and those who seek me find me.(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,(S)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(U)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(W)
    along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.(X)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
  2. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Blessings of Wisdom

8 Does not (A)wisdom call?
    Does not (B)understanding raise her voice?
2 On (C)the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside (D)the gates in front of (E)the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O (F)men, I call,
    and my cry is to (G)the children of man.
5 O (H)simple ones, learn (I)prudence;
    O (J)fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak (K)noble things,
    and from my lips will come (L)what is right,
7 for my (M)mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing (N)twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all (O)straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
10 (P)Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 (Q)for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and (R)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and (S)discretion.
13 (T)The fear of the Lord is (U)hatred of evil.
(V)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and (W)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (X)counsel and (Y)sound wisdom;
    I have insight; (Z)I have strength.
15 By me (AA)kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
17 (AB)I love those who love me,
    and (AC)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (AD)Riches and honor are with me,
    (AE)enduring wealth and (AF)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AG)better than (AH)gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than (AI)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Choose my instruction instead of silver (1-11) Here wisdom is personified, as the Word became Jesus. Wisdom (Jesus) called out and raised his voice in public places to all mankind. Nowadays the word of God is broadcast through TVs and radios and in hundreds of thousand big and small churches free of charge. She speaks what is right, true and just. We should listen and choose her instruction. For wisdom is more precious than gold, and nothing we desire can compare with her. The simple will gain prudence, the foolish understanding, and the sinners forgiveness of sins and eternal life. 2. Those who seek me find me (12-21) Wisdom is directly related to fearing the Lord. It is to hate what God hates. Wisdom has prudence, knowledge, discretion, counsel, sound judgment and understanding. By wisdom the kings reign and rulers make laws. Riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity are with wisdom. When we love and seek God with all our heart, we will find him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling out to all mankind. Let me love you and seek you and find you.

One Word: Seek God and you will find.