Proverbs 8.13

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The Beginning of Wisdom: “The Fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 8:13)

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13 NKJV)

Wisdom is speaking in this chapter, and she makes a very clear statement: If you truly fear the Lord, you will hate evil. This is not a mild dislike. It is a strong, active hatred — the same kind of hatred God has toward sin. Wisdom tells us that genuine reverence for God naturally produces a deep aversion to:

• Pride and arrogance — thinking too highly of ourselves.

• The evil way — choosing paths that dishonour God.

• The perverse mouth — lying, gossip, boasting, or speaking in ways that harm others.

In other words, the fear of the Lord is not just an emotion — it changes what we love and what we hate.

Many people today want the benefits of wisdom without the cost. They want guidance, peace, and blessing, but they’re not willing to hate what God hates. Proverbs 8:13 tells us that real wisdom begins with a heart that aligns with God’s own heart — loving what He loves and hating what He hates. When we fear the Lord in this way, we don’t have to strive to be “good.” Our hatred of evil becomes a natural guardrail that keeps us on the right path.

A simple prayer for today: Lord, help me to fear You rightly. Give me a heart that hates what You hate and loves what You love. Let pride, arrogance, and perverse words have no place in my life.

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church 

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