1παροιμιαι σαλωμωντος υιου δαυιδ ος εβασιλευσεν εν ισραηλ 2γνωναι σοφιαν και παιδειαν νοησαι τε λογους φρονησεως 3δεξασθαι τε στροφας λογων νοησαι τε δικαιοσυνην αληθη και κριμα κατευθυνειν 4ινα δω ακακοις πανουργιαν παιδι δε νεω αισθησιν τε και εννοιαν 5τωνδε γαρ ακουσας σοφος σοφωτερος εσται ο δε νοημων κυβερνησιν κτησεται 6νοησει τε παραβολην και σκοτεινον λογον ρησεις τε σοφων και αινιγματα 7αρχη σοφιας φοβος θεου συνεσις δε αγαθη πασι τοις ποιουσιν αυτην ευσεβεια δε εις θεον αρχη αισθησεως σοφιαν δε και παιδειαν ασεβεις εξουθενησουσιν 8ακουε υιε παιδειαν πατρος σου και μη απωση θεσμους μητρος σου 9στεφανον γαρ χαριτων δεξη ση κορυφη και κλοιον χρυσεον περι σω τραχηλω 10υιε μη σε πλανησωσιν ανδρες ασεβεις μηδε βουληθης εαν παρακαλεσωσι σε λεγοντες 11ελθε μεθ' ημων κοινωνησον αιματος κρυψωμεν δε εις γην ανδρα δικαιον αδικως 12καταπιωμεν δε αυτον ωσπερ αδης ζωντα και αρωμεν αυτου την μνημην εκ γης 13την κτησιν αυτου την πολυτελη καταλαβωμεθα πλησωμεν δε οικους ημετερους σκυλων 14τον δε σον κληρον βαλε εν ημιν κοινον δε βαλλαντιον κτησωμεθα παντες και μαρσιππιον εν γενηθητω ημιν 15μη πορευθης εν οδω μετ' αυτων εκκλινον δε τον ποδα σου εκ των τριβων αυτων 16οι γαρ ποδες αυτων εις κακιαν τρεχουσιν και ταχινοι του εκχεαι αιμα 17ου γαρ αδικως εκτεινεται δικτυα πτερωτοις 18αυτοι γαρ οι φονου μετεχοντες θησαυριζουσιν εαυτοις κακα η δε καταστροφη ανδρων παρανομων κακη 19αυται αι οδοι εισιν παντων των συντελουντων τα ανομα τη γαρ ασεβεια την εαυτων ψυχην αφαιρουνται 20σοφια εν εξοδοις υμνειται εν δε πλατειαις παρρησιαν αγει 21επ' ακρων δε τειχεων κηρυσσεται επι δε πυλαις δυναστων παρεδρευει επι δε πυλαις πολεως θαρρουσα λεγει 22οσον αν χρονον ακακοι εχωνται της δικαιοσυνης ουκ αισχυνθησονται οι δε αφρονες της υβρεως οντες επιθυμηται ασεβεις γενομενοι εμισησαν αισθησιν 23και υπευθυνοι εγενοντο ελεγχοις ιδου προησομαι υμιν εμης πνοης ρησιν διδαξω δε υμας τον εμον λογον 24επειδη εκαλουν και ουχ υπηκουσατε και εξετεινον λογους και ου προσειχετε 25αλλα ακυρους εποιειτε εμας βουλας τοις δε εμοις ελεγχοις ηπειθησατε 26τοιγαρουν καγω τη υμετερα απωλεια επιγελασομαι καταχαρουμαι δε ηνικα αν ερχηται υμιν ολεθρος 27και ως αν αφικηται υμιν αφνω θορυβος η δε καταστροφη ομοιως καταιγιδι παρη και οταν ερχηται υμιν θλιψις και πολιορκια η οταν ερχηται υμιν ολεθρος 28εσται γαρ οταν επικαλεσησθε με εγω δε ουκ εισακουσομαι υμων ζητησουσιν με κακοι και ουχ ευρησουσιν 29εμισησαν γαρ σοφιαν τον δε φοβον του κυριου ου προειλαντο 30ουδε ηθελον εμαις προσεχειν βουλαις εμυκτηριζον δε εμους ελεγχους 31τοιγαρουν εδονται της εαυτων οδου τους καρπους και της εαυτων ασεβειας πλησθησονται 32ανθ' ων γαρ ηδικουν νηπιους φονευθησονται και εξετασμος ασεβεις ολει 33ο δε εμου ακουων κατασκηνωσει επ' ελπιδι και ησυχασει αφοβως απο παντος κακου
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 After the title the writer defines the design and nature of the instructions of the book. He paternally invites attention to those instructions and warns his readers against the enticements of the wicked. In a beautiful personification, wisdom is then introduced in a most solemn and impressive manner, publicly inviting men to receive its teachings, warning those who reject, and encouraging those who accept, the proffered instructions. (Pro. 1:1-33)
2 To know . . . instruction--literally, "for knowing," that is, such is the design of these writings.
wisdom--or the use of the best means for the best ends, is generally employed in this book for true piety.
instruction--discipline, by which men are trained.
to perceive--literally, "for perceiving," the design (as above)
understanding--that is, words which enable one to discern good and evil.
3 To receive . . . of wisdom--For receiving that discipline which discretion imparts. The Hebrew for "wisdom" differs from that of
Pro 1:2, and denotes rather discreet counsel. Compare the opposite traits of the fool (
Pro 16:22).
justice . . . equity--all the attributes of one upright in all his relations to God and man.
4 simple--one easily led to good or evil; so the parallel.
young man--one inexperienced.
subtilty--or prudence (
Pro 3:21;
Pro 5:21).
discretion--literally, "device," both qualities, either good or bad, according to their use. Here good, as they imply wariness by which to escape evil and find good.
5 Such writings the wise, who pursue right ends by right means, will value.
learning--not the act, but matter of it.
wise counsels--or the art and principles of governing.
6 To understand--so as to . . . such will be the result.
interpretation--(Compare Margin).
words of the wise--(Compare
Pro 1:2).
dark sayings--(Compare
Ps 49:4;
John 16:25; and see Introduction, Part I).
7 The fear of the Lord--the principle of true piety (compare
Pro 2:5;
Pro 14:26-
Pro 14:27;
Job 28:28;
Ps 34:11;
Ps 111:10;
Acts 9:31).
beginning--first part, foundation.
fools--the stupid and indifferent to God's character and government; hence the wicked.
8 My son--This paternal form denotes a tender regard for the reader. Filial sentiments rank next to piety towards God, and ensure most distinguished rewards (compare
Pro 6:20;
Eph 6:2-
Eph 6:3).
9 On the figures of
Pro 1:9, compare
Gen 41:42;
Song 1:10;
Song 4:9.
10 A solemn warning against temptation.
entice--literally, "open the way."
consent . . . not--Sin is in consenting or yielding to temptation, not in being tempted.
11 Murder and robbery are given as specific illustrations.
lay wait . . . lurk privily--express an effort and hope for successful concealment.
swallow . . . grave--utterly destroy the victim and traces of the crime (
Num 16:33;
Ps 55:15). Abundant rewards of villainy are promised as the fruits of this easy and safe course.
15 The society of the wicked (way or path) is dangerous. Avoid the beginnings of sin (
Pro 4:14;
Ps 1:1;
Ps 119:101).
17 Men warned ought to escape danger as birds instinctively avoid visibly spread nets. But stupid sinners rush to their own ruin (
Ps 9:16), and, greedy of gain, succeed in the very schemes which destroy them (
1Tim 6:10), not only failing to catch others, but procuring their own destruction.
20 Some interpreters regard this address as the language of the Son of God under the name of Wisdom (compare
Luke 11:49). Others think that wisdom, as the divine attribute specially employed in acts of counsel and admonition, is here personified, and represents God. In either case the address is a most solemn and divine admonition, whose matter and spirit are eminently evangelical and impressive (see on
Pro 8:1).
Wisdom--literally, "Wisdoms," the plural used either because of the unusual sense, or as indicative of the great excellency of wisdom (compare
Pro 9:1).
streets--or most public places, not secretly.
21 The publicity further indicated by terms designating places of most common resort.
22 simple ones--(Compare
Pro 1:4).
simplicity--implying ignorance.
scorners-- (
Ps 1:1) --who despise, as well as reject, truth.
fools--Though a different word is used from that of
Pro 1:7, yet it is of the same meaning.
23 reproof--implying conviction deserving it (compare
John 16:8, Margin).
pour out--abundantly impart.
my spirit--whether of wisdom personified, or of Christ, a divine agent.
24 stretched . . . hand--Earnestness, especially in beseeching, is denoted by the figure (compare
Job 11:13;
Ps 68:31;
Ps 88:9).
25 set at naught--rejected as of no value.
would none of--literally, "were not willing or inclined to it."
26 In their extreme distress He will not only refuse help, but aggravate it by derision.
27 fear--the object of it.
desolation--literally, "a tumultuous noise," denoting their utter confusion.
destruction--or calamity (
Pro 1:26) compared to a whirlwind, as to fatal rapidity.
distress-- (
Ps 4:1;
Ps 44:11).
anguish--a state of inextricable oppression, the deepest despair.
28 Now no prayers or most diligent seeking will avail (
Pro 8:17).
29 The sinner's infatuated rejection brings his ruin.
31 fruit . . . way--result of conduct (
Isa 3:10;
Ezek 11:21;
Rom 6:21;
Gal 6:7-
Gal 6:8).
be filled--even to repletion (
Ps 123:4).
32 turning away--that is, from the call of
Pro 1:23.
simple--as in
Pro 1:22.
prosperity--quiet, implying indifference.
33 dwell safely--literally, "in confidence" (
Deut 12:10).
be quiet--or at ease, in real prosperity.
from fear--without fear.