βQui attonitis oculis cogitat prava, mordens labia sua perficit malum.β
βHe shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.β
βHe who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.β
βOne who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.β
βHe that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.β
Lips. These motions indicate fury and pensiveness.
Solomon here not only asserts that it is better to get wisdom than gold (ch. 3 14, 8 19), but he speaks it with assurance, that it is much better, better beyond expressionβwith admiration (How much better!) as one amazed at the disproportionβwith an appeal to men's consciences ("Judge in yourselves how much better it is" )βand with an addition to the same purport, that understanding is rather to be chosen than silver and all the treasures of kings and their favourites. Note, 1. Heavenly wisdom is better than worldly wealth, and to be preferred before it. Grace is more valuable than gold. Grace is the gift of God's peculiar favour; gold only of common providence. Grace is for ourselves; gold for others. Grace is for the soul and eternity; gold only for the body and time. Grace will stand us in stead in a dying hour, when gold will do us no good. 2. The getting of this heavenly wisdom is better than the getting of worldly wealth. Many take care and pains to get wealth, and yet come short of it; but grace was never denied to any that sincerely sought it. There is vanity and vexation of spirit in getting wealth, but joy and satisfaction of spirit in getting wisdom. Great peace have those that love it.