The Purpose of Proverbs

Proverbs 1

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

to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— that the wise may hear, and increase in learning; that the person of understanding may attain to sound counsel; to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

 

The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

Do Not Follow the Sinners Path

My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching; for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent. If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,+1:12 Sheol is the place of the dead. and whole, like those who go down into the pit. We’ll find all kinds of precious wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder. Thrown in your lot with us. We’ll all have one purse”— my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird; but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

 

The Call of Lady Wisdom

Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: “How long will y’all who are naive love naiveté? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? Y’all should respond to my correction. Look, I will pour out my spirit on y’all. I will make known my words to y’all. Because I have called, and y’all have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention. Y’all have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; I also will laugh at y’all’s disaster. I will mock when what you dread overtakes y’all, when what you dread overtakes y’all like a storm, and disaster comes on y’all like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overcome on y’all. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of YHWH. They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”