Reflections on Proverbs 1

 Proverbs 01(Contemporary English Version)

1. These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, the son of David.
   
2. Proverbs will teach you wisdom and self-control and how to understand sayings with deep meanings.
   
3. You will learn what is right and honest and fair.
   
4. From these, an ordinary person can learn to be smart, and young people can gain knowledge and good sense.
   
5. If you are already wise, you will become even wiser. And if you are smart, you will learn to understand
   
6. proverbs and sayings, as well as words of wisdom and all kinds of riddles.
   
7. Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice.
   
8. My child, obey the teachings of your parents,
   
9. and wear their teachings as you would a lovely hat or a pretty necklace.
   
10. Don't be tempted by sinners or listen
    
11. when they say, "Come on! Let's gang up and kill somebody, just for the fun of it!
    
12. They're well and healthy now, but we'll finish them off once and for all.
    
13. We'll take their valuables and fill our homes with stolen goods.
    
14. If you join our gang, you'll get your share."
    
15. Don't follow anyone like that or do what they do.
    
16. They are in a big hurry to commit some crime, perhaps even murder.
    
17. They are like a bird that sees the bait, but ignores the trap.
    
18. They gang up to murder someone, but they are the victims.
    
19. The wealth you get from crime robs you of your life.
    
20. Wisdom shouts in the streets wherever crowds gather.
    
21. She shouts in the marketplaces and near the city gates as she says to the people,
    
22. "How much longer will you enjoy being stupid fools? Won't you ever stop sneering and laughing at knowledge?
    
23. Listen as I correct you and tell you what I think.
    
24. You completely ignored me and refused to listen;
    
25. you rejected my advice and paid no attention when I warned you.
    
26. "So when you are struck by some terrible disaster,
    
27. or when trouble and distress surround you like a whirlwind, I will laugh and make fun.
    
28. You will ask for my help, but I won't listen; you will search, but you won't find me.
    
29. No, you would not learn, and you refused to respect the LORD.
    
30. You rejected my advice and paid no attention when I warned you.
    
31. "Now you will eat the fruit of what you have done, until you are stuffed full with your own schemes.
    
32. Sin and self-satisfaction bring destruction and death to stupid fools.
    
33. But if you listen to me, you will be safe and secure without fear of disaster."

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A person reaches a point in life in which they have seen enough and learned enough of life that they want to pass along to those still in the earlier stages of life what they have learned. This would seem to be Solomon's thoughts in writing Proverbs. He wants young men to learn from him and go on to a life that enjoys the benefits of wisdom rather than the destruction of folly. So he wrote Proverbs so others might gain wisdom, receive instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity, and to teach shrewdness.

To begin this journey of instruction, Solomon establishes the foundation for attaining wisdom and knowledge: fear of the Lord. One who recognizes the wisdom of having respect for the Lord and His instructions has the proper frame of mind to attain wisdom. One who does not recognize the wisdom of having respect for the Lord will reject instruction in wisdom. They are not a wise investment of one's effort in giving instruction. A further piece for the foundation of wisdom is to listen to the instruction of parents. One who both respects God and parents is fertile ground for instruction in wisdom.

The young and innocent are not likely to start down the path of foolishness by plotting their own foolish endeavors. Rather, their journey down that path will most likely begin with an enticement from those already on that path. Solomon assumes that enticement will come to any young man at some time and tells them, "don't be persuaded." What is the enticement of ambushing someone, killing them, and taking their property? It will be fun and they will gain valuable property. But Solomon warns the young men not to set foot on that path. "The paths of all who pursue gain dishonestly," he warns, "takes the lives of those who profit from it." (1:19) It is a path to self-destruction.

The foolish are prone to mock those who are too "good" to engage in their dishonest activities, but they will find that they are the ones who will be mocked by wisdom. Solomon personifies wisdom saying that wisdom will laugh at the calamity of those who neglect wisdom's counsel. "Because they hated knowledge, didn't choose to fear the LORD," says wisdom, "they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes." (1:31) By contrast, wisdom says, "whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger." (1:33)