Every Man's Bible - Proverbs - Flipbook - Page 6
Proverbs 1 | page 832
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The Purpose of Proverbs
These are the proverbs of Solomon,
David’s son, king of Israel.
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom
and discipline,
to help them understand the insights
of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live
disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just,
and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the
simple,
knowledge and discernment to the
young.
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and
become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive
guidance
by exploring the meaning in these
proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true
knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom
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My child,* listen when your father
corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown
you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your
neck.
My child, if sinners entice you,
turn your back on them!
They may say, “Come and join us.
Let’s hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave*;
let’s swallow them whole, like those
who go down to the pit of death.
Think of the great things we’ll get!
We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff
we take.
Come, throw in your lot with us;
we’ll all share the loot.”
1:8 Hebrew My son; also in 1:10, 15.
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My child, don’t go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths.
They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder.
If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.
But these people set an ambush for
themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy for
money;
it robs them of life.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main
street,
to those gathered in front of the city
gate:
22 “How long, you simpletons,
will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your
mocking?
How long will you fools hate
knowledge?
23 Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
and make you wise.
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“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t
come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no
attention.
25 You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
I will mock you when disaster
overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster engulfs you like a
cyclone,
and anguish and distress overwhelm
you.
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“When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me,
they will not find me.
For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the LORD.
1:12 Hebrew like Sheol.
1:2-7 The purpose for writing down these proverbs was to teach people foundational principles about how
to live a good life and how to deal with the various problems they would encounter in life. The first step to
attaining this kind of wisdom is the hardest: trusting and showing reverence for God. This means admitting
that we need help and then allowing God to guide us (see 9:10; 14:26-27; 15:16, 33; 19:23).
1:20-23 Wisdom is personified here, calling out to all who follow. There is no real secret to obtaining wisdom;
all we have to do is ask God for it (James 1:5). Unlike experience, which we never get until after we need it,
God’s wisdom is available to us as soon as we are willing to listen to him and obey his plan for our lives.
