←Proverbs 1→BSB

In This Chapter 6 people 88 terms

People

Solomon 2 David 2 Israel 2 Jedidiah (Solomon) Jacob (Patriarch) Jeshurun (Israel)

Key Terms

Simple Person 12 Perceive 7 Proverb 6 Knowledge 5 Counsel 5 Fear 4 Stupid 4 Have Insight 3 Righteousness (Standard) 3 Love 3 Wisdom 2 Understanding 2 Fairness (Integrity) 2 Discretion 2 Guidance 2 Fool 2 Instruction 2 Exempt 2 Complete 2 Lot (Object) 2 Defection 2 Safety 2 Ability (Skill) Ability (Power) World Universe Miracle Ability (Spiritual) Lordship Spiritually Understanding (Awareness) Be (Or Show Oneself) Just Acquit Justice (Right) Righteousness (Act) Just Put Right With Make Righteous Deserved Justify (Vindicate) Justify Justly Justice Righteousness (Quality) Fairness (Justice) Craftiness Crafty Be Crafty Intention (Evil) Fear (State) Awe (State) Fear (Terror) Fear (Reverence) Fear (Awe) Fearful Respect Respect (Among People) Sinful To Sin Sin Guilt (State) Transgression Sin (Act) Sin (Incur Guilt) Guilty (Responsible) Guilt (Consequence) Guiltiness Trespass (Sin) Sin (Offense) To Stand Guilty Sin (Guilty) Sin (Wrongdoing) Guilty Considered Guilty Guilty Of Sin Previously Sin Against Be Complete Complete Certainty Be Fully Assured To Love Love (Appreciation) Stupid (Foolish) Safety (State) Safety (Trust) Safe Safety (Security) Safety (Confidence)

The Beginning of Knowledge

(Proverbs 9:1–12)

1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David,king of Israel,
ⓘ Wisdom is practical knowledge that involves ethical choices....

Wisdom is practical knowledge that involves ethical choices. Words like right, just, and fair are associated with biblical wisdom. Gaining wisdom requires discipline, which means actively and intentionally training yourself toward wisdom and away from foolishness. The book of Proverbs encourages us to resist our natural sinful tendencies toward wrong behavior.
ⓘ This introduction explains the book's purpose and identifies...

This introduction explains the book's purpose and identifies the different audiences it addresses.
2for gaining wisdom and discipline,for comprehending words of insight,3and for receiving instruction in wise livingand in righteousness, justice, and equity.4To impart prudence to the simple†and knowledge and discretion to the young,5let the wise listen and gain instruction,and the discerning acquire wise counsel6by understanding the proverbs and parables,the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,but fools† despise wisdom and discipline.

The Enticement of Sin

ⓘ In the book of Proverbs, there are two...

In the book of Proverbs, there are two paths (Proverbs 1:15):

  • A wise and just path

  • A foolish and evil path

The parents represent the wise path and encourage their child to follow it.
ⓘ my son: Like other wisdom literature from the...

my son: Like other wisdom literature from the ancient Near East, much of Proverbs 1–9 contains a father's (and sometimes a mother's) advice to a son. Since the son is learning his father's job, much of the teaching is about the son's future work. Some translations (like The New Living Translation) often use the term child because the lessons apply to both sons and daughters.
8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.9For they are a garland of grace on your headand a pendant around your neck.
ⓘ The father warns his child not to join...

The father warns his child not to join a group of wrongdoers planning to attack innocent people. Their evil actions will eventually harm them (see Proverbs 28:10; Psalms 9:15; 35:8). The evil path involves violence and theft.
10My son, if sinners entice you,do not yield to them.11If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood,let us ambush the innocent without cause,12let us swallow them alive like Sheol,and whole like those descending into the Pit.13We will find all manner of precious goods;we will fill our houses with plunder.14Throw in your lot with us;let us all share one purse”—15my son, do not walk the road with themor set foot upon their path.16For their feet run to evil,and they are swift to shed blood.
ⓘ Birds avoid obvious traps, but greedy people do...

Birds avoid obvious traps, but greedy people do not. When they choose violence and robbery, they risk losing their lives violently. They might die during the crime or be punished with death if caught. Even if wrongdoers succeed until they die, they will experience judgment after death, while the righteous will be with God (see Psalm 1).
17How futile it is to spread the netwhere any bird can see it!18But they lie in wait for their own blood;they ambush their own lives.19Such is the fate of all who are greedy,whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

Wisdom Calls Aloud

ⓘ The author describes wisdom as a woman. In...

The author describes wisdom as a woman. In Hebrew, the word for wisdom, khokmah, is grammatically feminine. The author encourages his son to embrace wisdom (see Proverbs 3:18; 8:1–9:6).
20Wisdom calls out in the street,she lifts her voice in the square;21in the main concourse† she cries aloud,at the city gates she makes her speech:
22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?How long will scoffers delight in their scornand fools hate knowledge?23If you had repented at my rebuke,then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you;I would have made my words known to you.
ⓘ you neglected all my counsel: This is like...

you neglected all my counsel: This is like ignoring God's call (see Psalm 14). God calls us through:

24Because you refused my call,and no one took my outstretched hand,25because you neglected all my counsel,and wanted none of my correction,26in turn I will mock your calamity;I will sneer when terror strikes you,27when your dread comes like a storm,and your destruction like a whirlwind,when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
ⓘ they hated knowledge: Proverbs uses strong language. You...

they hated knowledge: Proverbs uses strong language. You either love and accept Wisdom or hate and reject her.
29For they hated knowledgeand chose not to fear the LORD.30They accepted none of my counsel;they despised all my reproof.31So they will eat the fruit of their own way,and be filled with their own devices.32For the waywardness of the simple will slay them,and the complacency of fools will destroy them.33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety,secure from the fear of evil.”