Proverbs 8:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

NIV: for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

NASB: For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

CSB: For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can equal it.

NLT: For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

KJV: For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

NKJV: For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

There are some things which money literally cannot buy; godly wisdom and its benefits are among these.

Humanity places great value on rare gems and metals. Red beryl, a scarce mineral, has a market value more than 1,000 times that of gold. Musgravite, another gemstone, is even rarer and worth almost 4,000 times as much as gold. Gold, itself, is typically valued about fifteen times as much as silver. Rare objects or possessions, other than jewels, are also highly valued. If asked what he most wants to own, a typical person may respond by naming an extremely expensive car, a mansion, or a private island. However, none of these carries the value of wisdom.

Solomon was blessed when God asked him to make a request; rather than asking for wealth or power, Solomon asked for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5–12). Not only was he gifted with brilliance, Solomon also found worldly success and prosperity, in no small part due to that wisdom (1 Kings 3:13–14).

Jesus asks in Luke 9:25: "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" A child of God in possession of God's Word may have only a modest income or even no income, but he is wealthier than all the billionaires combined who lack God's Word.

Proverbs 8:1–11 comes immediately after a potent warning about a promiscuous, seductive woman. Here, Solomon again presents a woman, this time as wisdom personified (Proverbs 1:20). She calls from everywhere to men to learn prudence and sense. She cites the value of learning from her. Her words are noble, right, true, righteous, and honest. Wisdom is far greater than silver, choice gold, jewels, and everything else that can be compared with her.

In this passage, wisdom is once again imagined as a woman who cries out to be heard (Proverbs 1:20–21). Wisdom extols her own truth and value. Wisdom was part of God's creative power long before even the creation of the universe. The chapter again returns to the many benefits of godly wisdom, before completing those declarations at the start of the next chapter.

Thus far in Proverbs, Solomon has spoken about the virtues of wisdom and the need to acquire it and live by it. He has also warned about the dangers of rejecting wisdom. Chapter 7 ended with a description of a promiscuous woman seducing a foolish young man. Now, in chapter 8, he lets wisdom speak, once again personified as a woman. She speaks about her existence before creation and her gift of life to all who find her. This analogy continues into chapter 9.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.