Proverbs 8:12

8:12-21 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.

I Wisdom dwell with Prudence,.... Here Wisdom begins to speak in her own person, and continues to do so unto the end of the chapter; or Christ describes himself, pencils out and draws his own picture, and a most lovely one it is. In this clause Christ is described by the habitation in which he dwells, "I Wisdom inhabit Prudence" (c); so the words may be rendered; that is the house in which I:dwell: or by his companion with whom he dwells, "with Prudence"; that is my companion with whom I am familiarly conversant.

The phrase, taken both ways, shows that Christ is very largely, yea, fully possessed of prudence; as a man that dwells in a house is the proprietor and possessor of it, so prudence is Christ's; it belongs to him, he enjoys it; he dwells in prudence, and prudence dwells in him; all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him, and the Spirit of wisdom rests upon him: and also it shows that prudence is natural to him, and not adventitious; it does not come from abroad, nor does he go abroad for it; he and Prudence are as it were born and brought up together in one and the same house: and likewise that there is an intimacy and familiarity between them; Prudence is most present with Christ, is always near him, and ready at hand to be exercised by him; as it was when he was incarnate on earth; he "dealt prudently", as it was prophesied he should, Isaiah 52:13 ; which appeared in his disputation with the doctors in the temple at twelve years of age; by his prudent answers to the ensnaring questions of his enemies; and throughout the whole of his ministry, both as to the manner and matter of it and particularly at the time of his seizure, arraignment, trial, and crucifixion.

Proverbs 8:12. I wisdom 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. This is said because some persons have much knowledge and wit, but not discretion. And find out — I help men to find out; witty inventions — Of all ingenious designs and contrivances for the glory of God, and for the good of mankind. “It is the eternal Wisdom that speaks here. She it is from whom all the light and all the knowledge of the wise proceed; all that is true and useful in the understanding and inventions of the human spirit; but above all, the sciences which tend to virtue, and which have God for their end.” — Dodd.

Proverbs 8:12-21 . What she is and gives . 12 . dwell with prudence ] marg. subtilty . Rather, have made subtilty (marg. prudence ) my dwelling , R.V.; κατεσκήνωσα βουλὴν LXX.; habito in consilio, Vulg. Abstract wisdom makes her abode, as it were the spirit in the body, in practical prudence in affairs. So love is said to “abound in knowledge and all discernment.” Php 1:9 , R.V. knowledge of witty inventions ] This, which is retained in R.V. marg., seems preferable, as describing the exercise of wisdom in earthly affairs, to the knowledge and discretion of R.V. text; eruditis intersum cogitationibus, Vulg.

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. Find out knowledge, i.e. I know them as clearly and certainly as if I had found them out by diligent searching. Or, I find out , is put for I help men to find out, as the Spirit is said to intercede, Romans 8:26 , when it helpeth us to do so. Of witty inventions; of all ingenious designs and contrivances for the service and glory of God, and for the good of ourselves and others. But why may it not be rendered, of wicked devices , as this very word is translated, Proverbs 12:2 14:17 24:8 ? For surely this is one great work of prudence, to discover, and so avoid, all evil counsels or devices, and the effects of them. But this I propose with submission, because I have not the concurrence of any interpreter in this exposition.

Wisdom first speaks warnings ( Proverbs 1:24 note), next promises ( Proverbs 2:1 note); but here she neither promises nor threatens, but speaks of her own excellence. "Prudence" is the "subtilty" (see the margin), the wiliness of the serpent Genesis 3:1 , in itself neutral, but capable of being turned to good as well as evil. Wisdom, occupied with things heavenly and eternal, also "dwells with" the practical tact and insight needed for the life of common men. "Witty inventions" are rather counsels. The truth intended is, that all special rules for the details of life spring out of the highest Wisdom as their source.

Verse 12-21. - Wisdom tells of her own excellence. Verse 12. - I wisdom dwell with prudence; rather, as in the Revised Version, I have made subtilty (ver. 5) my dwelling. Wisdom inhabits prudence, animates and possesses that cleverness and tact which is needed for the practical purposes of life. So the Lord is said to "inhabit eternity" ( Isaiah 57:15 ). Septuagint, "I wisdom dwelt ( κατεσκήνωσα ) in counsel and knowledge," which recalls, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt ( ἐσκήνωσεν ) among us" ( John 1:14 ). In 1 Timothy 6:16 we find the expression, "Who alone hath ( μόνος ἔχων ) immortality," exchanged with the phrase, "Who dwelleth ( οἰκῶν ) in the unapproachable light." And find out knowledge of witty inventions . This rendering refers to the production and solution of dark sayings which Wisdom effects. But the expression is better rendered, "knowledge of deeds of discretion" (ch. 1:4), or "of right counsels," and it signifies that Wisdom presides over all well considered designs, that they are not beyond her sphere, and that she has and uses the knowledge of them. Septuagint, "I ( ἐγὼ ) called upon understanding," i.e. it is I who inspire all good and righteous thought. Proverbs 8:12