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God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions (Ecc. 7: 29) or devices: the same word is translated 'engines' in 2 Chr. 26: 15. Cain went out from the presence of God and built a city, and his descendants made harps and organs. Men made themselves as happy as they could without God, as in the days of Uzziah. Amos 6: 5. In Ps. 99: 8; Ps. 106: 29, 39, the word signifies 'doings.'
In natural things inventions have much increased since early days. There is no harm in the things themselves; but if they foster the pride of man, and divert him from God, they become the instruments
of Satan. Many things also are found in Christendom of which there is not the least mention in scripture. WITTY INVENTIONS in Prov. 8: 12 is the same word as that translated 'discretion' in Prov. 1: 4; Prov. 2: 11, etc. Fürst gives for Prov. 8: 12, 'knowledge of intelligent counsels.'