Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. By "wisdom" is understood an habitual skill or faculty of judging aright about matters of practice. "Ways" and "paths" in Scripture dialect are the courses and manners of action. By "pleasantness" may be meant the joy and delight accompanying a course of such actions, and by "peace" the content and satisfaction which ensue from it. A course of life directed by wisdom and good judgment is delightful in the practice, and brings content after it. 1. Wisdom is of itself delectable and satisfactory, as it implies a revelation of truth and a detection of error to us; as it satisfies our best desires, by enriching our minds with excellent and useful knowledge, directed to the noblest objects, and serviceable to the highest ends. 2. Wisdom disposes us to acquire and to enjoy all the good and happiness we are capable of. 3. Wisdom frees us from the company of anxious doubt in our actions, and the consequence of bitter repentance. 4. Wisdom begets in us a hope of success in our actions. 5. Wisdom prevents discouragement from the possibility of ill-success, and makes disappointment tolerable. 6. Wisdom makes all the troubles, griefs, and pains incident to life easy and supportable, by rightly valuing the importance and moderating the influence of them. 7. Wisdom always has a good conscience attending it. 8. Wisdom confers on its possessor a facility, expert readiness, and dexterity in action which is a very pleasant and commodious quality. 9. Wisdom disposes us with judgment to distinguish, and with pleasure to relish, wholesome things. 10. Wisdom acquaints us with ourselves, our own temper and constitution, our propensities and passions, our habitudes and capacities. 11. Wisdom procures and preserves a constant favour and fair respect of men, purchases a good name, and upholds reputation. 12. Wisdom instructs us to examine, compare, and rightly to value the objects that court our affections and challenge our care, merely regulating our passions and moderating our endeavours. 13. Wisdom preserves order, the parent of peace; and prevents confusion, the mother of iniquity, strife, and disquiet. 14. Wisdom discovers our relations, duties, and concernments with respect to men, as well as the natural grounds of them. 15. It acquaints us with the nature and reason of true religion, affording the most convincing arguments to persuade us to the practice of it. 16. Wisdom attracts the favour of God, purchases for us a glorious reward, and secures to us a perpetual felicity. All these things are sources of satisfaction and delight. (Isaac Barrow, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.WEB: Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. |
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