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The Happiness of Possessing True Wisdom
v. 13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, obtaining it with eagerness and holding it securely, and the man that getteth understanding, drawing or digging it out, even with much labor.
v. 14. For the merchandise of it, the act of gaining or acquiring wisdom, is better than the merchandise of silver, such as men are eager to accumulate, and the gain thereof than fine gold, even though it be of the finest and purest kind.
v. 15. She is more precious than rubies, or corals, gems of the greatest costliness; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her, wisdom surpassing them all by far. Cf Job_28:18.
v. 16. Length of days is in her right hand, as a reward to those who accept and exercise true wisdom; and in her left hand riches and honor, all the blessings of true prosperity being dispensed by her.
v. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, with never a disagreeable feature to mar one's enjoyment of true wisdom, and all her paths are peace, without the strife and alarm found where human wisdom is proclaimed.
v. 18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, her fruit preserving life, so that living is a blessing; and happy is every one that retaineth her, keeping a firm hold upon this wonderful species of knowledge learned from the Word of God.
v. 19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, by means of His personal, essential wisdom, which He has also revealed in His Word; by understanding hath He established the heavens, preparing them with proper discrimination and judgment.
v. 20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, the seas did divide, breaking forth from the chaotic mass of formless matter and occupying their fixed places, and the clouds drop down the dew, the rain still falling in agreement with His laws. From the majesty with which the work of creation portrays the wisdom of the Lord the author now deduces admonitions which should be heeded by all the godly.
v. 21. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes, namely, these words of instruction, lest they escape in a moment when vigilance is relaxed; keep sound wisdom and discretion, or "thoughtfulness and circumspection," prudence properly applied in all affairs of life;
v. 22. so shall they be life unto thy soul and grace, or charm, to thy neck, like an ornament, a fine bit of jewelry.
v. 23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, free from anxiety and care, secure in the Lord's protection, and thy foot shall not stumble, on account of some obstruction with which the enemies attempt to bring the godly to fall.
v. 24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, be filled with anxious trembling; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet, untroubled by any notion of impending danger, like that of a child.
v. 25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, such an alarm as would tend to fill the heart with terror, neither of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh, who would come sweeping along like a destructive tempest.
v. 26. For the Lord shall be thy Confidence, a safe place of refuge, and shall keep thy foot from being taken, in the snares which the godless are always spreading for the feet of the unwary for which reason the believers are all the more under obligations to make use of the true wisdom in keeping their feet on the right path.