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Proverbs 1
1The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
6to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching:
9for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.
11If they say, "Come with us, Let's lay in wait for blood; let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.
14You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse."
15My son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
18but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
28Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
29because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh.
30They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."
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Advice Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: God Holds in Derision Proverbs 1:26, 27
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, / when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Impenitence is a Cause of Proverbs 1:30, 31
They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. / So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Afflictions and Adversities: Sin Produces Proverbs 1:31
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Afflictions: Sin Produces Proverbs 1:31
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Age and Wisdom Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Exhortations to Shun all Inducements To Proverbs 1:10–15
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Forbidden Proverbs 1:10, 15
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
Answers To Prayer: Denied to Those Who: Reject the Call of God Proverbs 1:24, 25, 28
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, / Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
Anthropomorphisms: Miscellaneous Acts and States of Mind Attributed to Laughing Proverbs 1:26
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
Being Brave Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Being Different Proverbs 1:15
my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
Being Naive Proverbs 1:32
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Birds: (Snaring) Designs of the Wicked Proverbs 1:10–17
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
Birds: Instincts of Proverbs 1:17
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
Birds: Taken in Snares or Nets Proverbs 1:17
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
Blindness: Spiritual Proverbs 1:7, 22, 29, 30
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. / “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge? / For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
Chains: Figurative Proverbs 1:9
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
Character of the Wicked: Enticing to Evil Proverbs 1:10–14
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
Children Leaving Home Proverbs 1:8, 9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. / For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
Children: Commandments To Proverbs 1:8, 9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. / For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
Children: Instruction of Proverbs 1:1, 4
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, / To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
Children: should Attend to Parental Teaching Proverbs 1:8, 9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. / For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
Christian Education Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
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Proverbs 1:1-6 Verses 1-6
The lessons here given are plain, and likely to benefit those who feel their own ignorance, and their need to be taught. If young people take heed to their ways, according to Solomon's Proverbs, they will gain knowledge and discretion. Solomon speaks of the most important points of truth, and a greater than Solomon is here. Christ speaks by his word and by his Spirit. Christ is the Word and the Wisdom of God, and he is made to us wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7-9 Verses 7-9
Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who follow their own devices, without regard to reason, or reverence for God. Children are reasonable creatures, and when we tell them what they must do, we must tell them why. But they are corrupt and wilful, therefore with the instruction there is need of a law. Let Divine truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they shall be so to us.
Proverbs 1:10-19 Verses 10-19
Wicked people are zealous in seducing others into the paths of the destroyer: sinners love company in sin. But they have so much the more to answer for. How cautious young people should be! "Consent thou not." Do not say as they say, nor do as they do, or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them. Who could think that it should be a pleasure to one man to destroy another! See their idea of worldly wealth; but it is neither substance, nor precious. It is the ruinous mistake of thousands, that they overvalue the wealth of this world. Men promise themselves in vain that sin will turn to their advantage. The way of sin is down-hill; men cannot stop themselves. Would young people shun temporal and eternal ruin, let them refuse to take one step in these destructive paths. Men's greediness of gain hurries them upon practices which will not suffer them or others to live out half their days. What is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? much less if he lose his soul?
Proverbs 1:20-33 Verses 20-33
Solomon, having showed how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of Satan, here declares how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God. Christ himself is Wisdom, is Wisdoms. Three sorts of persons are here called by Him: 1. Simple ones. Sinners are fond of their simple notions of good and evil, their simple prejudices against the ways of God, and flatter themselves in their wickedness. 2. Scorners. Proud, jovial people, that make a jest of every thing. Scoffers at religion, that run down every thing sacred and serious. 3. Fools. Those are the worst of fools that hate to be taught, and have a rooted dislike to serious godliness. The precept is plain; Turn you at my reproof. We do not make a right use of reproofs, if we do not turn from evil to that which is good. The promises are very encouraging. Men cannot turn by any power of their own; but God answers, Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you. Special grace is needful to sincere conversion. But that grace shall never be denied to any who seek it. The love of Christ, and the promises mingled with his reproofs, surely should have the attention of every one. It may well be asked, how long men mean to proceed in such a perilous path, when the uncertainty of life and the consequences of dying without Christ are considered? Now sinners live at ease, and set sorrow at defiance; but their calamity will come. Now God is ready to hear their prayers; but then they shall cry in vain. Are we yet despisers of wisdom? Let us hearken diligently, and obey the Lord Jesus, that we may enjoy peace of conscience and confidence in God; be free from evil, in life, in death, and for ever.