I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Ver. 12. I wisdom dwell with prudence.] I draw all into practice, and teach men to prove by their own experience, what "that good, and holy, and acceptable will of God is." Rom 12:2 Of the most that would be held knowing men, it may well be said, as Cicero says the proverb went of the Athenians, that they used their wisdom as men do artificial teeth, for show only, and that they did scire quae recta sunt, sed facere nolle, know what was right, but had no mind to do accordingly. Socrates said there was no difference between σοφια and σωρροσυνη - wisdom and prudence or moderation, since he that knows good things, to do them, and evil things, to avoid them, is to be held a wise man, and none else. a
And find out knowledge of witty inventions.] Tending to piety; not those toilsome toys, sophismata, quae nec ignoranti nocent, nec scientem iuvant, b that are hard to come by, but of no use or worth, proof or profit. These are but laborious loss of time, c as Aristotle hath it; like an olive, or datestone, hard to crack the one, or cleave the other, but nothing, or nothing worth aught, when cracked or cloven, within either. Wisdom finds her scholars somewhat else to do than to be so busily idle. Witty she allows them to be, but not wittily wicked, not wise to do evil, inventors of evil, or idle things. "Walk circumspectly," saith she, "not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, understanding what the will of the Lord is," Eph 5:15-17 and putting it in speedy execution. "Keep therefore and do it, for this is your wisdom." Deu 4:6 See Trapp on " Deu 4:6 " This will speak you far more witty than those wits of the world, who "seek out many inventions," Ecc 7:28 but all to no purpose, and "become vain in their imaginations, their foolish heart being darkened." Rom 1:21
a Xenoph., De Dictis et Factis Socrat.
b Seneca.
c " Tο του χρονου παραναλωμα. - Arist.