“The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
A wise person will hear and increase in learning,
And a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and a saying,
The words of the wise and their riddles.”

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And necklaces for your neck.”

“My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
If they say, ‘Come with us,
Let’s lie in wait for blood,
Let’s ambush the innocent without cause;
Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with plunder;
Throw in your lot with us,
We will all have one money bag,’
My son, do not walk in the way with them.
Keep your feet from their path,
For their feet run to evil,
And they are quick to shed blood.”

“Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any bird;
But they lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.
Such are the ways of everyone who makes unjust gain;
It takes away the life of its possessors.”

“Wisdom shouts in the street,
She raises her voice in the public square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she declares her sayings:
‘How long, you naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking?
And how long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing,
And fools hate knowledge?’”

“‘Turn to my rebuke,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
And you neglected all my advice
And did not want my rebuke;
I will also laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when your dread comes.’”

“‘When your dread comes like a storm
And your disaster comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
They would not accept my advice,
They disdainfully rejected all my rebuke.
So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way,
And be filled with their own schemes.
For the faithlessness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
But whoever listens to me will live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.’”

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Context and Meaning

Proverbs 1 serves as the introduction to the entire book.
It establishes the purpose of Proverbs—to impart wisdom, discipline, moral insight, and godly discernment to those who seek to walk in the fear of the Lord.

This opening chapter divides naturally into three sections:

1. The Purpose of Wisdom (v. 1–7):
   Wisdom begins with reverence for God—“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
2. The Warning Against Evil Companions (v. 8–19):
   Solomon warns his “son” (symbolizing all learners) not to follow those who use violence, greed, or deception for gain.
3. The Call of Wisdom (v. 20–33):
   Wisdom is personified as a woman calling publicly to all people.
   Those who ignore her will face ruin, but those who listen will dwell in safety and peace.

Key Themes:

1. The Fear of the Lord: The foundation of true wisdom (v. 7).
2. Parental Guidance: Godly instruction is life-giving (v. 8–9).
3. Temptation of Sinful Companions: Evil associations destroy lives (v. 10–19).
4. Wisdom’s Public Invitation: God calls all people to live in righteousness (v. 20–23).
5. Consequences of Rejection: Ignoring wisdom leads to ruin (v. 24–32).
6. Promise of Safety: Listening to wisdom brings peace and security (v. 33).

Reflection and Impact

Proverbs 1 invites us to pursue wisdom as a sacred relationship with God, not just as moral advice:

• Wisdom begins with reverence – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (v. 7) echoes Job 28:28 and Psalm 111:10. Reverence for God is the doorway to understanding.
• Parental instruction builds character – (v. 8–9) aligns with Ephesians 6:1–4: children are called to honor their parents in the Lord.
• Sin’s promises are deceptive – (v. 10–19) reflects James 1:14–15: desire, when conceived, gives birth to sin—and sin brings forth death.
• Wisdom calls to all – (v. 20–23) connects to Matthew 11:28: Jesus, the embodiment of wisdom, calls, “Come to Me, all who are weary.”
• Rebellion leads to ruin – (v. 29–32) parallels Romans 1:28: God gives them over to their foolish hearts.
• Wisdom’s path leads to peace – “Whoever listens to me will live securely” (v. 33) reflects Philippians 4:7: the peace of God will guard your heart and mind.

Application

• Pursue Wisdom Daily: Seek God’s Word before the world’s opinions.
• Guard Against Ungodly Influences: The company you keep shapes your path.
• Respond to God’s Call: Don’t ignore the voice of wisdom in conviction or correction.
• Walk in Reverence: Let holy fear—not worldly fear—govern your decisions.
• Rest in His Protection: Those who heed His wisdom live in peace and security.

Closing Thought

The first chapter of Proverbs sets the tone for the entire book:
Wisdom is not merely knowledge—it is reverence in action.
To fear the Lord is to love what is right, turn from evil, and walk in His peace.

“Whoever listens to Me will live securely, and will be at ease from the dread of evil.”