Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Wisdom is the principal thing; (therefore) get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. The world's maxim, on the contrary, is,-Money is the principal thing; therefore get money: and with all thy getting get more. ('Quaerenda pecunia primum est, Virtus post Nummos,' Juvenal.) Contrast the wise man's admonition (Proverbs 16:16). The will and heart must be inclined by the Holy Spirit to it; otherwise precepts are vain (Proverbs 17:16). 'You begin to be wise when you begin to love and seek wisdom: as Seneca says, It is a great part of goodness to wish to be good'-provided you do not content yourself with idle wishes (Cornelius a Lapide). "With all thy getting get understanding" - i:e., amidst all thy acquisitions acquire this, without which the others will be useless, and even hurtful (Menochius).