John Gill Commentary Proverbs 2:3

"Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;" — Proverbs 2:3 (ASV)

Yea, if you cry after knowledge Of God, Christ, and the Gospel; not only bow the ear and bend the mind to these things, but importunately and fervently pray for them; not only attend the ministry of the word by men, but cry to God to give the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; which supposes some sense of a want of it, an hearty desire for it, having some apprehension of the worth and value of it; and that it is to be had, as there is indeed great reason to hope for and expect it, (James 1:5) ; [and] lift up your voice for understanding ; for Christ, who is understanding as well as wisdom, (Proverbs 8:14) ; or rather for an understanding of the Gospel and the mysteries of it, which men do not naturally understand; and for which there must be an understanding given, or the eyes of the understanding must be enlightened; or Christ, by his spirit and grace, must open the understanding, that it may understand these things; which is granted to those who lift up their voice in prayer for it.