Wes is correct. In addition wisdom generally means "masterful understanding, "skill," or "expertize" (1:2). In biblical texts outside Proverbs the term is used of technical and artistic skills (Ex 28:3; 31:6), of the arts of magic (Ex 7:11; Is 3:31), of government (Ecc 4:14; Jer 50:35), of diplomacy (1 KIngs 5:7), of war (Is 10:13). Moreover, some have the wisdom to judge (1 Kings 3:28; Is 11:1-6) and much more.....

Proverbs 8 is a little more meticulous. Wisdom is divided into two sections; (1) historical (12-21, and (2) primordial (22-31) times. The 1st section features wisdoms communicable attributes of counsel, understanding, and strength that enable kings to rule and bestow wealth and honor on her lovers. The second pertains to her existence before creation and to her competence and authority, which enable her to bestow authority and order upon rulers in historical time. The wise ruler's ability to decree social order conforms to Wisdoms delight in God's decrees that ordered the cosmos.

A great book that was just released is The Book of Proverbs (Chapters 1-15) by Bruce Waltke. This is part of the NICOT series and is almost 700 pages in length. Waltke is tremendous in OT studies (ok, I am a little prejudice since he teaches Advanced Hebrew Exegesis and Judges-Poets at RTS) and though I am not finished with this yet, what I have read thus far has been exceptionally superb. The book is worth the bibliographies alone.

Reformed and Always Reforming,