To know wisdom—to perceive— To give the knowledge of wisdom—the perception of, &c. and so on. The first six verses contain the author's design; wherein he uses several synonymous words to express the matter of which he intends to treat, as wisdom, instruction, understanding, knowledge, &c. By which he means instructions proper to form the mind; particularly those which respect youth, and which serve to correct and repress the sallies of their passions and humours. The first principle he lays down is, that a due sense of God is a most necessary qualification to enable one to profit by these instructions; teaching us, that our principal care must be to possess our minds with a lively sense of the being, wisdom, power, and goodness of God. This is the first step to wisdom; and the second is, to bear a high reverence to parents, both natural and spiritual, Proverbs 1:8. One of the first things that parents should take care of is, to teach their children to avoid evil company, Proverbs 1:10.; to represent vice in its true light, Proverbs 1:11, &c.; and to admonish them to hearken to the voice of wisdom, Proverbs 1:20. In short, in this chapter he introduces Wisdom speaking to her son, or to her children in general; inviting them to love her, and by no means to tread in the way of sinners, but to keep close to her directions; threatening destruction to those who contemn this counsel. See Bishop Patrick and Calmet.
Related Commentaries of Proverbs 1:2
Proverbs 1:2
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;