1The proverbsH4912 of SolomonH8010 the sonH1121 of DavidH1732, kingH4428 of IsraelH3478; 2To knowH3045 wisdomH2451 and instructionH4148; to perceiveH995 the wordsH561 of understandingH998; 3To receiveH3947 the instructionH4148 of wisdomH7919, justiceH6664, and judgmentH4941, and equityH4339; 4To giveH5414 subtiltyH6195 to the simpleH6612, to the young manH5288 knowledgeH1847 and discretionH4209. 5A wiseH2450 man will hearH8085, and will increaseH3254 learningH3948; and a man of understandingH995 shall attainH7069 unto wise counselsH8458: 6To understandH995 a proverbH4912, and the interpretationH4426; the wordsH1697 of the wiseH2450, and their dark sayingsH2420. 7The fearH3374 of the LORDH3068 is the beginningH7225 of knowledgeH1847: but foolsH191 despiseH936 wisdomH2451 and instructionH4148. 8My sonH1121, hearH8085 the instructionH4148 of thy fatherH1, and forsakeH5203 not the lawH8451 of thy motherH517: 9For they shall be an ornamentH3880 of graceH2580 unto thy headH7218, and chainsH6060 about thy neckH1621. 10My sonH1121, if sinnersH2400 enticeH6601 thee, consentH14 thou not. 11If they sayH559, ComeH3212 with us, let us lay waitH693 for bloodH1818, let us lurkH6845 privily for the innocentH5355 without causeH2600: 12Let us swallow them upH1104 aliveH2416 as the graveH7585; and wholeH8549, as those that go downH3381 into the pitH953: 13We shall findH4672 all preciousH3368 substanceH1952, we shall fillH4390 our housesH1004 with spoilH7998: 14CastH5307 in thy lotH1486 amongH8432 us; let us all have oneH259 purseH3599: 15My sonH1121, walkH3212 not thou in the wayH1870 with them; refrainH4513 thy footH7272 from their pathH5410: 16For their feetH7272 runH7323 to evilH7451, and make hasteH4116 to shedH8210 bloodH1818. 17Surely in vainH2600 the netH7568 is spreadH2219 in the sightH5869 of any birdH1167 H3671. 18And they lay waitH693 for their own bloodH1818; they lurk privilyH6845 for their own livesH5315. 19So are the waysH734 of every one that is greedyH1214 of gainH1215; which taketh awayH3947 the lifeH5315 of the ownersH1167 thereof. 20WisdomH2454 criethH7442 withoutH2351; she utterethH5414 her voiceH6963 in the streetsH7339: 21She criethH7121 in the chief placeH7218 of concourseH1993, in the openingsH6607 of the gatesH8179: in the cityH5892 she utterethH559 her wordsH561, saying, 22How long, ye simple onesH6612, will ye loveH157 simplicityH6612? and the scornersH3887 delightH2530 in their scorningH3944, and foolsH3684 hateH8130 knowledgeH1847? 23TurnH7725 you at my reproofH8433: behold, I will pour outH5042 my spiritH7307 unto you, I will make knownH3045 my wordsH1697 unto you. 24Because I have calledH7121, and ye refusedH3985 ; I have stretched outH5186 my handH3027, and no man regardedH7181 ; 25But ye have set at noughtH6544 all my counselH6098, and wouldH14 none of my reproofH8433: 26I also will laughH7832 at your calamityH343; I will mockH3932 when your fearH6343 comethH935 ; 27When your fearH6343 comethH935 as desolationH7722 H7584, and your destructionH343 comethH857 as a whirlwindH5492; when distressH6869 and anguishH6695 comethH935 upon you. 28Then shall they callH7121 upon me, but I will not answerH6030 ; they shall seek me earlyH7836, but they shall not findH4672 me: 29For that they hatedH8130 knowledgeH1847, and did not chooseH977 the fearH3374 of the LORDH3068: 30They wouldH14 none of my counselH6098: they despisedH5006 all my reproofH8433. 31Therefore shall they eatH398 of the fruitH6529 of their own wayH1870, and be filledH7646 with their own devicesH4156. 32For the turning awayH4878 of the simpleH6612 shall slayH2026 them, and the prosperityH7962 of foolsH3684 shall destroyH6 them. 33But whoso hearkenethH8085 unto me shall dwellH7931 safelyH983, and shall be quietH7599 from fearH6343 of evilH7451.
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.