11 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2 to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6 to understand a proverb, and parables,
the words and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching: 9 for they will be a garland to grace your head,
and chains around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let’s lay in wait for blood;
let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,
and whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13 We’ll find all valuable wealth.
We’ll fill our houses with spoil. 14 You shall cast your lot among us.
We’ll all have one purse.” 15 My son, don’t walk in the way with them.
Keep your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil.
They hurry to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18 but these lay wait for their own blood.
They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.
It takes away the life of its owners.
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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 1:1-19
Commentary on Proverbs 1:1-6
(Read Proverbs 1:1-6)
The lessons here given are plain, and likely to benefit those who feel their own ignorance, and their need to be taught. If young people take heed to their ways, according to Solomon's Proverbs, they will gain knowledge and discretion. Solomon speaks of the most important points of truth, and a greater than Solomon is here. Christ speaks by his word and by his Spirit. Christ is the Word and the Wisdom of God, and he is made to us wisdom.
Commentary on Proverbs 1:7-9
(Read Proverbs 1:7-9)
Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who follow their own devices, without regard to reason, or reverence for God. Children are reasonable creatures, and when we tell them what they must do, we must tell them why. But they are corrupt and wilful, therefore with the instruction there is need of a law. Let Divine truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they shall be so to us.
Commentary on Proverbs 1:10-19
(Read Proverbs 1:10-19)
Wicked people are zealous in seducing others into the paths of the destroyer: sinners love company in sin. But they have so much the more to answer for. How cautious young people should be! "Consent thou not." Do not say as they say, nor do as they do, or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them. Who could think that it should be a pleasure to one man to destroy another! See their idea of worldly wealth; but it is neither substance, nor precious. It is the ruinous mistake of thousands, that they overvalue the wealth of this world. Men promise themselves in vain that sin will turn to their advantage. The way of sin is down-hill; men cannot stop themselves. Would young people shun temporal and eternal ruin, let them refuse to take one step in these destructive paths. Men's greediness of gain hurries them upon practices which will not suffer them or others to live out half their days. What is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? much less if he lose his soul?