Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
Parallel Translations
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Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
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Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
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Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Cross-references (13)
Passages linked to Proverbs 8:6 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Colossians 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
- Matthew 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
- Proverbs 4:2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
- Proverbs 23:16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
- Matthew 13:35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.”
- Job 33:1-3 “However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words. See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
- Psalms 19:7-11 Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple. Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. Moreover your servant is warned by them. In keeping them there is great reward.
- Psalms 49:3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.
- Proverbs 2:6-7 For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
- Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
- Proverbs 22:20-21 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge, To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
- Matthew 5:2-12 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (13 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent…
Pro 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
Ver. 6. I will speak of excellent things.] ηγεμονικα; ruling cases, master sentences, axioms of state, principles for princes. "I have written for them the great things of my law." {Hos 8:12} Solomon calls the Scriptures "lords of collections," as some sense that text, Ecc 12:11.
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Shall be right things.] Right for each man’s particular purposes and occasions. The Scriptures are so penned, that every man may think they speak de se, in re sua {a} of him and his affairs. In all the commandments of God, there is so much rectitude and good reason, could we but see it, that if God did not command them, yet it were our best way to practise them.
{a} Athanas.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Of excellent things, Heb. of princely things, worthy of…
Of excellent things, Heb. of princely things, worthy of princes to learn and practise them; or such as excel common things as much as princes do ordinary persons.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Hear; for I will speak of excellent things,.... Such…
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things,.... Such are the things of the Gospel; they not only excel what the light of nature dictates and directs to, but even what the law of Moses commands and requires; the doctrines of the Gospel are excellent in their author, nature, and use; particularly those which respect the love, grace, and mercy of God, the person and offices of Christ, the efficacy of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, and the great salvation which he has wrought out. These are the doctrines of grace which proceed out of Wisdom's mouth, and are such as never man spake the like; they are to be approved of, being what differ from others, and to be preferred unto them, Phi 1:9; or "princely things" (u), as the word may be rendered; which became him who is the Prince of the kings of the earth, and the Prince of peace to speak; and are worthy to be received by princes, though little known and valued by the princes of this world; and are embraced and, esteemed by those who are the princes of the Lord s people: or they are "principal" ones, or "leading" truths (w); of the greatest importance, interesting ones; "praiseworthy", as Aben Ezra, or "honourable", as Gersom, and to be had in the highest esteem and veneration;
and the opening of my lips shall be right things: agreeable to right reason, though above it; consonant to the righteous law of God, and even to the perfection of God's righteousness, which is greatly glorified by the obedience, sufferings, and death of Christ, and redemption through him; and these are the excellent and principal doctrines of the Gospel, even justification by Christ's righteousness, atonement by his sacrifice, and redemption through his blood; all which are consistent with and greatly display the justice of God: nor are any of the doctrines of the Gospel licentious ones, but on the contrary teach men to live soberly and righteously; as well as they are plain and easy to such who are conversant with them, as is often expressed, and may be the sense of the word here used also.
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(u) "principalia, i.e. digna principibus", Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "ducalia", Gussetius, p. 485. (w) "Praecipua quaedam", Tigurine versions.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent…
Verse 6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things] נגידים negidim, things which are pre-eminent, and manifestly superior to all others. The teaching is not trifling, though addressed to triflers.
The opening of my lips shall be right things.] מישרים meysharim, things which are calculated to correct your false notions, and set straight your crooked ways. Hence she declares,
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Excellent - literally, “princely things.” The word is not…
Excellent - literally, “princely things.” The word is not the same as in marginal reference, and is elsewhere always used of persons (compare “captain” in 1Sa 9:16; 2Sa 5:2). The poetic style of this part of the book applies it here to the things taught, or to the character of the teaching.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain excellent things--or, "plain," "manifest."
excellent things--or, "plain," "manifest."
opening . . . things--upright words.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 6. Excellent things — Noble, princely things; things of…
6. Excellent things — Noble, princely things; things of primary importance, or plain, obvious things, (Pro_8:9.) The word is elsewhere always used of persons: see 1Sa_9:16; 2Sa_5:2, in both which cases the word is rendered captain; that is, foremost, leader.
Right things — Straight; the opposite of every thing tortuous, disingenuous, dishonest.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 6. excellent things] The word is always used elsewhere…
6. excellent things] The word is always used elsewhere of persons, princes, or leaders. Here, poetically, my words shall march forth, instinct with the nobility of truth and rectitude.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (6) The opening of my lips shall be right…
(6) The opening of my lips shall be right things.—That is, I will open my mouth to speak them.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain I will speak of excellent things; de rebus magnis,…
I will speak of excellent things; de rebus magnis, Vulgate; semna ga , Septuagint. The Hebrew nagid is elsewhere used of persons; e.g. a prince, leader; (1Sa_9:16 1Ch_26:24) so it may here be best translated "princely," "noble an epithet which the subject matter of Wisdom"s discourse fully confirms. (comp. Pro_22:20, though the word there is different) Hitzig and others, following the Syriac, prefer the meaning, "plain, evident truths" (comp. ver. 9); but the former interpretation is most suitable. The opening of my lips shall be right things. That which I announce when I open my mouth is just and right. (Pro_23:16) Septuagint.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Hear; for I will speak of excellent things.
Pro_8:6
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things.
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The excellency of wisdom
Wisdom is represented as making a public appearance in a rude, ignorant, and corrupt world, loudly proclaiming her doctrines and counsels, and calling upon all men to hearken to them. What consideration could be more powerful to engage their attention than this, that she speaketh of excellent things: the opening of her lips is of right things, and her mouth speaketh truth. I propose to show that this is the just character of the instructions and precepts of religious virtue.
I. The excellence of the doctrines and injunctions of wisdom, absolutely and in themselves. We must fix an idea of excellence, making it the standard whereby to try everything which pretendeth to that character. There must be some common and plain rule wherein all men are agreed, and which must have so deep a foundation in nature as the necessary invariable determination of our minds. If you suppose the character of excellent and right to be the result of arbitrary human constitutions, it would never be uniform. But our notions of excellent and right are before the consideration of all laws, appointments, orders, and instructions whatsoever; for we bring all these to the test in our own minds, and try them by a sense which we have prior to any of them. Nor does this sense depend on any positive declaration of Gods will. The original idea of excellence is essential to our nature. It is one of those perceptions to which we are necessarily determined when the object fitted to excite it is presented to us. There is a test, or power of discerning, in the mind. And this discerns the excellency of religious things. Set right and true against their opposites, in any case wherein you are competent judges, and you will see to which of them your own minds must necessarily give the preference. There is eternal truth in all Gods testimonies; they are founded on self-evident maxims.
II. Compare the doctrines and precepts of wisdom with other things which are most valued by man, and show their superior worth. That wisdom is better than rubies, pearls, or whatever else can be described in this world, is shown--
1. In that none of them come up to the character of excellence before insisted on, and which must be attributed to wisdom. They all have only a limited and relative worth.
2. The most precious treasures of this world are not valued but with some regard to virtue, but religious wisdom is necessarily esteemed excellent independently of them, and without any manner of regard to them.
3. The things of this world, which rival wisdom in our esteem, have many inconveniences attending the acquisition and use of them, which do not affect this invaluable possession. Application:
(1)We should hear the counsels of wisdom, make it our choice, and use our utmost endeavours to attain it.
(2) We should entertain our minds with the excellency of wisdom as a very agreeable contemplation.
(3) The excellence of wisdom should affect the characters of men in our esteem, and regulate our regards to them. (J. Abernethy, M. A.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 when my lips open
when my lips open
Here "lips" represents a person's mouth, with which he speaks. AT: "when I open my mouth to speak" (See: Synecdoche)
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upright
proper or just
my mouth speaks
Here "mouth" represents a person who speaks. AT: "I speak" (See: Synecdoche)
what is trustworthy
"what people should believe"
wickedness is disgusting to my lips
Here "lips" represents a person who is speaking. AT: "wickedness is disgusting to me" or "saying wicked things would be disgusting to me" (See: Synecdoche)
wickedness
Here the abstract noun "wickedness" represents wicked speech. (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
noble
trust
evil
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 8:6-9 Wisdom is associated with truth, understanding, and knowledge,…
8:6-9 Wisdom is associated with truth, understanding, and knowledge, which are right, wholesome, plain, and clear. Wisdom detests deception, which is devious and crooked (cp. 1:2-7; 6:16-19).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.