The Usefulness of Proverbs
1The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
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To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction;
To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,
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To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
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That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled],
And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,
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The wise will hear and increase their learning,
And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],
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To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation,
And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].
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The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];
But arrogant [a]fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.
The Enticement of Sinners
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My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not reject the teaching of your mother.
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For they are a garland of grace on your head,
And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.
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My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
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If they say, “Come with us;
Let us lie in wait to shed blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
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Let us swallow them alive like Sheol (the place of the dead),
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit [of death];
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We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions,
We will fill our houses with spoil;
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Throw in your lot with us [they insist];
We will all have one money bag [in common],”
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My son, do not walk on the road with them;
Keep your foot [far] away from their path,
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For their feet run to evil,
And they hurry to shed blood.
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Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any bird;
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But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood;
They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction].
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So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.
Wisdom Warns
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[b]Wisdom shouts in the street,
She raises her voice in the markets;
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She calls out at the head of the noisy streets [where large crowds gather];
At the entrance of the city gates she speaks her words:
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“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning?
How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing,
How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?
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“If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke,
Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
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“Because I called and you refused [to answer],
I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer];
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And you treated all my counsel as nothing
And would not accept my reprimand,
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I also will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when your dread and panic come,
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When your dread and panic come like a storm,
And your disaster comes like a whirlwind,
When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].
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“Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer;
They will seek me eagerly but they will not find me,
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Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord [that is, obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect],
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They would not accept my counsel,
And they spurned all my rebuke.
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“Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own [wicked] way
And be satiated with [the penalty of] their own devices.
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“For the turning away of the [c]naive will kill them,
And the careless ease of [self-righteous] fools will destroy them.
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“But whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live securely and in confident trust
And will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:7 In Proverbs various kinds of fools are discussed including those who are closed-minded, over-confident, and reject instruction and correction—the unteachable; those who lack spiritual insight—the spiritually blind; and those who are flippant, hardened, and who deliberately choose to reject God and wisdom—the arrogant.
- Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom is personified as a woman in vv 20-33 and speaks, in the first person, of godly wisdom. Read the word “wisdom” as “the wisdom of God” and see the wonderful power of this book.
- Proverbs 1:32 Lit simple ones.