God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions (Eccl. 7:29) or devices: the same word is translated “engines” in 2 Chronicles 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 Psalm 99:8 and Psalm 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 Proverbs 8:12 is the same word as that translated “discretion” in Proverbs 1:4 and Proverbs 2:11, and others. Fürst gives for Proverbs 8:12, “knowledge of intelligent counsels.”