Proverbs 8:36
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Proverbs 8:36
“But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” This stark verse links hatred of Wisdom to self-harm. Sin against Wisdom harms not only God’s design but the person themselves. The claim that those who hate Wisdom love death reframes wrongdoing as self-destructive—poison to one’s own life and well-being. It echoes the framework of Proverbs where folly leads to ruin. The verse stakes a blunt contrast: life or death are at stake in how one treats Wisdom. It also foregrounds repentance as turning toward Wisdom restores life.
The verse reinforces the moral weight of wisdom: choosing to ignore or resist Wisdom is a rejection of God’s life-giving order and thus a spiritual death. It frames sin as a rebellion against the Creator that carries consequences not only in eternity but in present life.
Lesson for today: assess your attitudes toward wise counsel. Do you dismiss advice, justify harmful patterns, or rationalize destructive habits? If so, repentance and return to Wisdom lead to restoration and life. Seek humility to hear correction, and practice accountability to avoid the path that leads to spiritual and relational death.
Cross-References: Romans 6:23; James 1:14-15; Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 17:9