Benefits of Abiding in Wisdom Ch. 2

A Proverbs 2 Tapestry of Scripture

Sep 08, 2024

a bunch of different types of masks on a table

This is a Proverbs 2 rewrite with other parts of scripture inserted throughout. In order for these passages to relate to one another, I’ve had to change some words. Verb tense changes and pronoun changes are not noted throughout, but additions and subtractions are indicated with brackets or ellipses. The original NIV Proverb’s chapters are italicized. All scripture is footnoted.

FYI, because Christ and Wisdom are described so similarly, I have used descriptions for Christ here to describe Wisdom’s actions. In order for the passages to work together, I have changed the pronouns describing Christ to feminine pronouns.

I hope this tapestry of scripture arrests you as it did me. I plan to release these chapters once a week on Sundays: Chapters 1-9, & 30-31. Clink the links below to return to a previous chapter. The next chapter links are available at the end once released.

Proverbs Chapter 1

Proverbs Chapter 2

My [children], if you accept our word…1—The Word [that] became flesh and made his dwelling among [you]2—and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for her as for silver and search for her as for hidden treasure,3 . . . like treasure hidden in a field [that] a man found . . . hid . . . again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had to buy that field,4 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God for the Lord gives wisdom.5 He will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty6 [for] from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright.7

He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.8 She will come to you and make her home with you.9 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

Wickedness Personified

Wisdom will save you from [being like] wicked [children] . . . whose words are perverse, who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.10 They are senseless children. They have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil. They know not how to do good.11

[They are like] the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 12 She has dug her own cistern. 13 With her, the [rulers] of the earth commit adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth are intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.14

Wisdom will save you . . . from [this] adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. 15

[She] sits on a scarlet beast that is covered with blasphemous names and has seven heads and ten horns. The woman is dressed in purple and scarlet, and is glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She holds a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.16 Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.

brown wooden house near bare trees during daytime — Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.17 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.18 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it. But the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.19

Proverbs 2:1a

John 1:14

Proverbs 2:1b-4

Matthew 13:44

Proverbs 2:5-6a

Deuteronomy 28:12a

Proverbs 2:6b-7a