The Proverbs

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- Chapter 1 -

Authorship. Purpose

(Proverbs 9:1-12)

The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,

To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,

To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,

To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.

A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,

To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.

Main theme. Warnings against violence

The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.

My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.

For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.

My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.

If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:

We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit:

We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:

Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:

My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.

For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.

Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:

So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.

Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.

Warning against neglecting wisdom

Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.

She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,

O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?

(Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)

Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.

But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.

I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.

Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,

Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,

Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.

They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.

Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.

For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.

But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.

Authorship. Purpose

(Proverbs 9:1-12)

The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—

that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

Main theme. Warnings against violence

The fear of the LORD

(a)

is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,(b) and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—

my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

Warning against neglecting wisdom

Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn at my reproof. Behold,(c) I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,

because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.

They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Footnotes

(a)1:7 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.

(b)1:12 Sheol is the place of the dead.

(c)1:23 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.