Proverbs 2:3

“Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, etc.] Of God, Christ, and the Gospel; not only bow the ear and bend the mind to these things, but importunately and fervently pray for them; not only attend the ministry of the word by men, but cry to God to give the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; which supposes some sense of a want of it, an hearty desire for it, having some apprehension of the worth and value of it; and that it is to be had, as there is indeed great reason to hope for and expect it, (<590105>James 1:5); [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; for Christ, who is understanding as well as wisdom, (<200814>Proverbs 8:14); or rather for…”

“Yea, if--literally, "When if," that is, in such a case. knowledge--or, "discrimination." understanding--as in Pro 2:2.”

“Criest - To God, the only giver of it. Proverbs 2:4”

“if: Pro 3:6, Pro 8:17; Kg1 3:9-12; Ch1 22:12; Psa 25:4, Psa 25:5, Psa 119:34, Psa 119:73, Psa 119:125, Psa 119:169; Luk 11:13; Eph 1:17, Eph 1:18; Jam 1:5 liftest up thy voice: Heb. givest thy voice Proverbs 2:4”

“Instead of כּי אם there is an old אל תקרי (Note: Regarding this formula, see Strack's Prolegomena, pp. 66-70.) (read not so, but thus), כי אם (if thou callest understanding mother), which supposes the phrase כי אם (lxx) as traditional. If אם were intended (according to which the Targ. in the Bibl. rabbinica, but not in Norzi's text, translates), then 3b would correspond; vid., Pro 7:4, cf. Job 17:14. Thus: Yea, if thou callest for understanding, i.e., callest her to thee ( Pro 18:6), invitest her to thee ( Pro 9:15). The ק of בּקּשׁ is, with the exception of the imper. (e.g., בּקּשׁוּ), always without the Dagesh. Pro 2:4 belongs to the ideas in the Book of Job found in these introductory…”