Proverbs Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

• The Argument - The wonderful love of God toward his Church is declared in this book: for as much as the sum and effect of the whole Scriptures is here set forth in these brief sentences, which partly contain doctrine, and partly manners, and also exhortations to both: of which the first nine Chapters are as a preface full of grave sentences and deep mysteries, to assure the hearts of men to the diligent reading of the parables that follow: which are left as a precious jewel to the Church, of those three thousand parables mentioned in (1 Kings 4:32) and were gathered and committed to writing by Solomon’s servants and incited by him.

1:2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

• (a) That is, what we ought to know and follow, and what we ought to refuse.
• (b) Meaning, the word of God in which is the only true knowledge.

1:3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

• (c) To learn to submit ourselves to the correction of those who are wise.
• (d) By living justly and rendering to every man that which belongs to him.

1:4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:

• (e) To such as have no discretion to rule themselves.

1:5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:

• (f) As he shows that these parables containing the effect of religion concerning manners and doctrine, belong to the simple people: so he declares that the same is also necessary for them who are wise and learned.

1:6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

1:7 The fear of [1] Yahweh [See Proverbs Footnotes 1] is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

1:8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching:

• (g) He speaks this in the Name of God, who is the universal Father of all creatures, or in the name of the pastor of the Church, who is as a father.
• (h) That is, of the Church, in which the faithful are begotten by the incorruptible seed of God’s word.

1:9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.

• (i) That is, the wicked who do not have the fear of God.

1:11 If they say, "Come with us, Let's lay in wait for blood; let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

• (k) He speaks not only of the shedding of blood with hand, but of all crafty practises which tend to the detriment of our neighbour.

1:12 let's swallow them up alive like [2] Sheol [See Proverbs Footnotes 2], and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

• (l) As the grave is never satisfied, so the malice of the wicked and their cruelty has no end.

1:13 We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.

1:14 You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse."

• (m) He shows how the wicked are allured to join together, because they have everyone part of the spoil of the innocent.

1:15 My son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,

• (n) That is, have nothing at all to do with them.

1:16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

1:17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:

1:18 but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

• (o) He shows that there is no reason to move these wicked to spoil the innocent, aside from their malice and cruelty.

1:19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

• (p) By which he concludes that the covetous man is a murderer.

1:20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

• (q) This wisdom is the eternal word of God.
• (r) So that no one can pretend ignorance.

1:21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

1:22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

• (s) Wisdom reproves three kinds of men, the foolish or simple who err out of ignorance, the mockers who cannot stand to be taught, and the fools who are drowned in worldly lusts and hate the knowledge of godliness.

1:23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

1:24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

1:25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

1:26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;

• (t) This is spoken according to our capacity signifying that the wicked, who mock and jest at God’s word, will have the just reward of their mocking.

1:27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.

• (u) That is, your destruction, which you feared.

1:28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;

• (x) Because they sought not with an affection to God, but for ease of their own grief.

1:29 because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh.

1:30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

• (y) Showing that without faith and obedience, we cannot call on God correctly.

1:31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

• (z) They will feel what convenience their wicked life will give them.

1:32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

• (a) That is, the prosperity and sensuality in which they delight.

1:33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."