SECTION VII.

WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.

SUMMARY.

1-7-Education, instruction and understanding these are worth getting at all costs. 8-11-They lead to riches and honour, length of days and the true knowledge of God. 12-15-By keeping the commandments of God alone can true wisdom be found, and by following the example of good men. 16-19-Neglect of education brings ignorance and foolishness. 20-24-Those who seek for wisdom by prayer, as did Solomon, and who teach it, as did Moses and Paul, shall gain understanding. 25-27— Manual labour should not be allowed to monopolize a man's life, to the exclusion of self-improvement and study of God's law.

VII, 1-4. Value of Education and Knowledge.

1.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.. Proverbs iv, 13. (R.v.)

2.

My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: and even unto hoar hairs thou shalt find wisdom.

according to her name;

manifest unto many.

For wisdom is

and she is not

Ecclesiasticus vi, 18, 22. (APOC.)

3.

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and under

standing.

Proverbs xxiii, 23. (a.v.)

4.

Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth: forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee; love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: yea, with all thou hast gotten get understanding.

Proverbs iv, 5-7. (R.v.)

VII, 5-8.

5.

Wisdom shall enter into thine heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall watch over thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the way of evil, from the men that speak froward things; who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness... That thou mayst walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. Proverbs ii, 10-13, 20. (R.V.)

6.

With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

7.

Job xii, 12. (R.V.)

Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his

treasure.

Isaiah xxxiii, 6. (a.v.)

True Wisdom Leads Man to God.

8.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than

VII, 9. the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

Proverbs iii, 13-20. (R.v.)

9.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou cry after discernment, and lift up thy voice for understanding; if thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand