Matthew Henry Commentary Proverbs 8:12-21

"I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and] discretion. The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might. By me kings reign, And princes decree justice. By me princes rule, And nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice; That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries." — Proverbs 8:12-21 (ASV)

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. Humanity devised many schemes for ruin; God devised one for our recovery.

He hates pride and arrogance, evil ways, and perverse speech; these make people unwilling to hear His humbling, awakening, holy instructions. True religion gives people 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 anything else.

Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who love Christ are those who have seen His loveliness and have had His love shed abroad in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They will be happy in this world, or in that which is incomparably better. Wealth obtained by worthless means will soon be diminished, but that which is well obtained will wear well; and that which is well spent on works of piety and charity, will be lasting.

If they do not have riches and honor in this world, they will have that which is infinitely better. They will 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 will 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.