The Proverbs

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- Chapter 1 -

Authorship. Purpose

(Proverbs 9:1-12)

The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,

in order to know wisdom and discipline,

to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,

so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.

By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.(a)

He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.

Main theme. Warnings against violence

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.(b)

Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,

so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.(c)

My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.

If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.

Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit.

We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.

Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”

My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.(d)

For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.

Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.

Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.

Warning against neglecting wisdom

Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.

She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:

“Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?

Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.

For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.

You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.

Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.

When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,

then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.

For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;

they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.

Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.

The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.

But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”

Footnotes

(a)1:5 The word ‘gubernacula’ could also more generally refer to ‘positions of leadership.’ Note how sapiens and intelligens are used as nouns, but audiens is used as a participle; this is discerned from the context.(Conte)

(b)1:7 The word ‘foolish’ is a better translation than ‘fools’ because ‘foolish’ describes a person by their behavior, which may change.(Conte)

(c)1:9 A ‘torques’ can refer to a necklace of twisted metal, but it can also refer to non-metal adornment around the neck. In this translation, using a Christological and specifically Roman Catholic meaning, the text is taken as referring to the collar of a priest.(Conte)

(d)1:15 Why are these parables addressed to ‘my son,’ i.e. to a man, or to men in general? First, it is Solomon speaking to David, which in essence is itself a parable of a wise father speaking to his son. Second, in a special way, God is using this book to speak to priests. Third, it foreshadows the wisdom of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Fourth, we are all (men, women, and children) called to be like the Son of God. And there may be other reasons.(Conte)

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.