The Proverbs

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- Chapter 1 -

Authorship. Purpose

(Proverbs 9:1-12)

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

These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,

that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.

These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.

Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,

to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.

Main theme. Warnings against violence

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge-fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;

they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.

My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to commit murder, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.

Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit.

We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.

Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”

My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;

their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.

For it is useless to spread the net to trap a bird while the bird is watching.

These men lie in wait to kill themselves-they set a trap for themselves.

So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.

Warning against neglecting wisdom

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;

at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,

“How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?

Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.

But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.

I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes,

when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.

Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,

they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.

They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.

For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”

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.