UBF Daily Bread

TO FEAR THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL

Passage: Proverbs 8:1~21

Key verse: 13

Wisdom’s Call

8 Does not wisdom call out?^(A)
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
²At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
³beside 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.
⁵You who are simple,^(D) gain prudence;^(E)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.^[a]
⁶Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
⁷My mouth speaks what is true,^(F)
    for my lips detest wickedness.
⁸All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
⁹To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
¹⁰Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,^(G)
¹¹for 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)
¹³To fear the Lord^(K) is to hate evil;^(L)
    I hate^(M) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
¹⁴Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.^(N)
¹⁵By me kings reign
    and rulers^(O) issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶by me princes govern,^(P)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.^[b]
¹⁷I love those who love me,^(Q)
    and those who seek me find me.^(R)
¹⁸With me are riches and honor,^(S)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.^(T)
¹⁹My fruit is better than fine gold;^(U)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.^(V)
²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,^(W)
    along the paths of justice,
²¹bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.^(X)

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Footnotes

Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
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

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.