8:1–36 Review · In Proverbs 8–9, personified Wisdom makes her final appeal, speaking again in the first person to her young audience. Chapter 8 offers a lengthy discourse commending wisdom, which can be divided into four sections. In verses 1–11, wisdom’s surpassing value is asserted, while verses 12–21 portray wisdom’s “associates” and attributes. Wisdom’s worth is then further affirmed in a description of its ancient origin—at the time of creation (8:22–31), before wisdom assumes the role of the parent/sage in directly urging the “sons” to heed her counsel (8:32–36).

8:1–11 · Lady Wisdom’s appearance here is reminiscent of Proverbs 1:20–33, with 8:1–3 paralleling 1:20–21 and 8:5 similar to 1:22, although her message in chapter 8 is more positive. She stations herself in places of promi…