提要
所羅門王在第二章中開始對他那努力尋求智慧，並受他恩寵的學生，講述第二個教訓。如他全心全意地尋求智慧（包括辨識力與悟性），其熱誠的程度就像尋找隱藏的寶藏一樣，那麼他就會明白，這一智慧是來自上帝的。他追求智慧的過程會使他明白為什麼要敬畏上帝，因為他會逐漸認識上帝。我們也要將追求屬靈的智慧作為我們人生的目標，因為上帝喜歡將智慧賜給那些尋找祂，且向祂求智慧的人（雅1：5）。祂要保護、引導、及保守那些接受祂智慧的兒女，因為他們都走公義的道路。
當智慧深藏在一個人心中時，它就會產生屬靈的力量。於是它也賜給信徒辨別是非的力量及極高的悟性，也是拯救他脫離邪惡的必然要素。他可以辨識仇敵所用的詭計，以及認出真理是否為人扭曲；因此，惡人與淫婦都不能誘他行惡。不道德的生活是非常危險的──「因為罪的工價就是死」（羅6：23）。羅馬書中的這節經文，在這章箴言中以同樣的音調為終：「但是上帝的恩賜是藉著耶穌基督我們的主賜給我們永生」。「正直人必在世上居住，完全人必在地上存留」（2：21）。這是指他們在應許之地的產業，但是它最後的意思是，心裡純潔的人就會居住在天上永恆產業中，所以惡人是沒有份的（3：35）。
在箴言第三章中，所羅門要他的學生謹守他心裡的誡命。他的誡命實際上就是上帝的誡命，但是他已經將它作為自己的誡命與教訓。請注意因守上帝誡命而來的福氣：長壽與平安（3：2；申8：1）。正如所羅門所強調，信徒要將上帝的話（祂的慈愛與真理）長記在心（3：1、3）。我們不祇是要在外表上順服上帝，而且也要認識祂的話語；我們要從心裡做到這一點。當上帝的話與我們的言行整合時，我們就不會得罪上帝，而且這樣我們就會在上帝與世人的眼前蒙恩寵（3：4）。
「你們要全心信靠耶和華」是一節非常有名的經文，向所有的信徒保證，如果他們全心信靠耶和華，而非依賴他們自己有限的聰明才智，他們就會有福氣接受上帝的引導。如果我們真的敬畏上帝，我們就會在我們所行的一切事上認定祂，祂也會指引我們的道路（3：5~6）。祂也會祝福我們健康、興旺、及長壽。敬畏上帝的意思就是，我們順服祂，並且盡我們一切力量去討祂的喜悅和榮耀祂。正如所羅門王所教訓的，榮耀上帝的一個方法就是將我們所得的十分之一奉獻給祂；這本來就是屬於上帝的，就像初生的果子一樣（出22：29；申8：4）。如果我們這樣做了，祂應許會祝福我們興旺（申28：2、8）；在新約時代，基本上，這是指靈魂的興旺，因為屬靈的福氣比物質財富更為重要。
更至人們所受的鞭策也是來自上帝的祝福。由於祂喜愛祂的百姓，祂就會矯正他們的不良行為，就像一位有愛心的父親矯正他孩子的行為一樣。某些苦難的目的乃是，上帝的兒女不應走上導致死亡的道路，但是如果他們親近上帝，他們就會找到超乎萬物的智慧和財寶。由於他們信靠上帝，他們就不會跌落在惡人的網羅中，也不會害怕或擔憂任何東西（3：25~26）。這就是任何人都可以擁有的、受到上帝祝福的生活。我們祈求別人也會垂聽，並追求在街上呼喊的智慧的聲音，並且明白，這個聲音就是我們主耶穌的聲音（比較1：20~23）。
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Overview
Solomon begins the second lesson in chapter 2 by telling his student of the benefits that follow a diligent search for wisdom. If, with his whole heart, he earnestly seeks wisdom (which includes discernment and understanding), zealously seeking as though it were hidden treasure, then he would learn that it only comes from God. His search would lead him to understand the fear of God, and thus come to know God personally. We too must make it our goal to attain wisdom by going to the Lord who is glad to give wisdom to those who seek Him and ask for it (James 1:5). He will protect, guard, and preserve His children to whom He has given wisdom, as they walk the path of righteousness.
When wisdom is treasured in one's heart, it results in spiritual strength. The believer is given discretion and understanding, which will serve to deliver him from evil. He will be able to discern the tricks of the enemy and know when there is a distortion of truth; thus he will be preserved from such evils that are practiced by the perverse man and the seductive adulteress. A life of immorality is very dangerous — "for the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). This same verse in the Book of Romans ends on the same note as does this chapter of Proverbs: "but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Those who are upright and keep to the paths of righteousness will "dwell in the land" and "remain in it" (2:21). This refers to their inheritance within the Promised Land, but it ultimately means that the pure in heart will dwell in the glorious eternal inheritance of heaven, whereas the wicked will have no part in it (3:35).
In Proverbs 3, Solomon asks his student to keep his commands in his heart. His commands are actually the commands of God which Solomon has claimed as his own and is teaching. Note the blessing which results from keeping the Word of God: a long and peaceful life (3:2; Deut. 8:1). As Solomon stresses, God's word (His mercy and truth) is to be kept in the believer's heart (3:1, 3). We are not merely to perform outward acts of obedience and have only a head knowledge of the Word of God; it must come from within our hearts. When God's Word is an integral part within us, then we will not sin against Him, and we will find favour and honour in the sight of God and man (3:4).
The famous verse, "trust in the Lord with all your heart", assures believers that if they trust God wholeheartedly rather than relying on their own intellect and finite wisdom, they will be blessed with God's guidance. If we truly fear God, we will recognize Him in all we do, and then He will keep us on the right track (3:5-6). He will also bless us with health, prosperity, and life. Fearing God means that we obey Him and do all we can to please and honour Him. As Solomon instructed, one way to honour God is to give Him our tithes and offerings, which really belong to God anyway, like the first-fruits (Ex. 22:29; Deut. 18:4). If we do so, He promises to bless us with prosperity (Deut. 28:2, 8), which in the New Testament period means primarily the prosperity of the soul, as it is far more important than material wealth.
Even chastisement is a blessing from the Lord. Since He loves His people, He corrects them as a good and loving Father would correct his child. The purpose of some afflictions is that God's children might not follow the wrong path that leads to death but that, in turning to God, they might find wisdom and treasure her above any other thing. Because they trust in God, they will not be caught in the net of the wicked, nor do they need to fear or worry about anything (3:25-26). This is the truly blessed kind of life that is available to all people. Pray that others will listen and turn to the voice of wisdom that is calling out to them and know this voice is the voice of Jesus our Lord (cf. 1:20-23).
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