A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of fools is deceit (Prov. 14:6-8).
The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands (Prov. 14:1).
He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm (Prov. 13:20)
Through insolence comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel (Prov. 13:10).
The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out (Proverbs 10:31).
The wise tongue will flow with righteousness.
On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding (Proverbs 10:13).
Those who are wise are discerning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it (Prov. 9:10-12).
Wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and by knowing Him. If you acquire wisdom you will have long life.
“When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 “Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 “When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,
29 When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
30 Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 “Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35 “For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.
36 “But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death” (Prov. 8:24-36).
Wisdom was a master workman when God created the universe. She was daily God’s delight, who rejoiced always before Him.
“For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 “All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9 “They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 “Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
11 “For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her (Prov. 8:7-11).
Wisdom, if we should listen to her and choose her, is always full of truth and righteousness. Nothing of this world can compare with her.
Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 “O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand wisdom.
6 “Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things (Prov. 8:1-6).
Wisdom can be found at every corner, at every turn in the road or at every decision point. It is calling out to us to be wise. We must listen for its voice.
Stephen Nielsen 