The Proverbs

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- Chapter 1 -

Authorship. Purpose

(Proverbs 9:1-12)

These are the sayings that compare one example with another, to teach moral lessons and to make people wise, from Solomon the king of Israel, who was the son of David.

The purpose of these sayings is to teach the meaning of wisdom and give examples of moral instruction, so wise teaching can guide you.

These sayings offer correction so you may live by wisdom, by the measures of what is right, what is just, and what is fair.

They give wise teaching to those who have no experience and to instruct those who do not know how to live a moral life, and to give the young the knowledge they need and to teach them the understanding they do not have

so the wise may listen to these sayings and increase in their learning, and those who already have insight will gain more ways to live according to the lessons of wisdom.

They seek to understand the lessons of the proverbs and the meaning of the parables. These are the words of the wise and their difficult riddles.

Main theme. Warnings against violence

You must begin your search for knowledge by honoring Yahweh and respecting him, a fool who dishonors himself hates wisdom and fights against the one who corrects him.

My son, listen when your father teaches you and do not disobey the rules your mother set down.

Their teaching is a wreath upon your head, and beautiful necklaces around your neck, they are priceless gifts from your parents.

My son, as sinners try to draw you into their sin with smooth talk and flattery, do not listen to what they say and do not follow them.

They may say, “Come with us! Join us! We will hide in wait and we will take the life of one who passes by. We will hide ourselves and we will rise up and attack a person who has done us no wrong, that will be our sport.

Like the grave has power to take even a healthy person and drag them to the place of the dead, we will take their life from them. We will make them like those who fall into the place where there is no hope of escape.

We will find many valuable and expensive items, and we will fill our houses with what we stole from them!

So, come, be part of our team! We will split into equal shares, and give to each member of our team, from all the things we stole.”

My son, do not walk that road with them! Do not put your foot down on the same path on which they walk!

They run to the places where they do terrible things, They hurry so they can commit murder.

It is useless to put out a net to trap a bird while the bird is watching you.

These men make plans that turn around and kill them. They set a trap and the trap catches them.

These are the ways of all who gain their riches through theft and deceit; the things they stole destroy the lives of the thieves who cling to them.

Warning against neglecting wisdom

Wisdom is like a woman who cries out in the streets. Wisdom calls out to people in the plazas.

At the intersection of busy streets she cries out and at the entrance of city gates.

She cries, “How long will you who have not been taught, will you love being enticed to do what will harm you? How long will you who think you know more than the wise, have so much joy in the little you know? How long will you fools refuse to learn?

If you pay attention to me when I correct you, I will tell you all I am thinking. I will help you understand what I am saying to you.

But when I called to you, you refused to listen. I beckoned you and stretched out my hands to you, but no one paid any attention.

You refused to listen to my advice and you did not listen when I corrected you.

I will laugh at you, when you are experiencing troubles, when you are terribly afraid, I will have contempt for you and not compassion.

When troubles strike you like a powerful storm, and disasters hit you like a violent wind, when you experience distress and you go through difficulties, I will have contempt for you.

When people call to me to help them, but I will not answer them. They will be desperate for my help, and search everywhere for me, but they will not find me.

They reject what I say and they hate what I know, and they made a choice not to show respect to Yahweh.

They would not obey what I told them to do, and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.

So they will experience the consequences of their actions when they carry out their evil plans.

Those who have not been taught wisdom are foolish. Fools choose to make no decision about anything, but be sure of this: Their failure to make a decision will destroy their lives.

But those who pay attention to me will live in peace and safety, and they will rest and not be afraid of any disaster that may come.”

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.