Proverbs 1

King James Version

Full text for Proverbs Chapter 1

1¶ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5A wise [man] will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7¶ The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9For they [shall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10¶ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18And they lay wait for their [own] blood; they lurk privily for their [own] lives.

19So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, [saying],

22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Proverbs 1 introduces the book's purpose: to impart wisdom, instruction, and understanding, especially to the young and simple. It establishes that the fear of the LORD is the foundation of knowledge, while fools reject it. The chapter warns against the enticement of violent sinners, whose pursuit of ill-gotten gain ultimately leads to their own destruction. Finally, personified Wisdom calls out publicly, offering guidance but also warning of dire consequences for those who scorn her counsel and refuse to embrace knowledge.

Medium Summary

This opening chapter of Proverbs, attributed to Solomon, outlines its primary objectives: to provide wisdom, instruction, and understanding, guiding individuals in justice, judgment, and equity. It aims to equip the naive with discretion and enable the wise to deepen their learning and comprehend profound sayings. Crucially, the text declares that the fear of the LORD marks the beginning of true knowledge, contrasting this with the folly of those who despise instruction. A significant portion warns against associating with violent sinners who lure others into schemes of robbery and bloodshed, emphasizing that such paths are self-destructive. Personified Wisdom then issues a public call, reproving the simple, scorners, and fools for their rejection of her guidance. She foretells that those who ignore her counsel will face calamity and destruction, for which she will offer no aid, while those who heed her voice will find security and peace.

Long Summary

Proverbs chapter one commences by identifying its author, Solomon, and stating the overarching purpose of the proverbs: to impart wisdom, instruction, and understanding. It aims to teach justice, judgment, and equity, providing subtilty to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young. The chapter asserts that even the wise can increase their learning and attain wise counsels through these teachings, enabling them to grasp proverbs, interpretations, and the dark sayings of the wise. A foundational principle is then established: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge," directly contrasting this with the behavior of fools who despise wisdom and instruction. The text transitions into a parental admonition, urging "my son" to heed the instruction of his father and the law of his mother, describing them as an ornament of grace. A significant warning follows against the enticements of violent sinners who propose ambushes for the innocent to acquire precious substance and fill their houses with spoil. The chapter cautions against joining such individuals, highlighting that their feet run swiftly to evil and bloodshed, but their schemes ultimately ensnare themselves, leading to their own destruction. This serves as a general warning against all who are greedy for ill-gotten gain, which ultimately costs the lives of its owners. Finally, Wisdom is personified, crying out loudly in public places—in the streets, at the gates, and in the chief concourse—reproving the simple for their simplicity, scorners for their delight in scorning, and fools for their hatred of knowledge. She offers to pour out her spirit and make known her words, but warns of severe consequences for those who refuse her call, disregard her counsel, and despise her reproof. Wisdom declares that she will mock their coming calamity and destruction, and will not answer when they call upon her in their distress, because they rejected knowledge and the fear of the LORD. Ultimately, those who turn away from her will suffer the fruit of their own ways, while those who hearken unto her will dwell safely and be free from the fear of evil.

Core Concepts

  • Purpose of ProverbsThe chapter introduces the book's aim: to impart wisdom, instruction, understanding, justice, judgment, and equity, particularly to the simple and the young.
  • Fear of the LORDThis foundational principle is declared as the beginning of knowledge, distinguishing those who seek wisdom from fools who despise it.
  • Parental InstructionThe text encourages heeding the guidance of parents, portraying their instruction as an ornament of grace and a law to be followed.
  • Warning Against SinnersA direct admonition against associating with violent and greedy individuals who entice others to partake in schemes of robbery and bloodshed, emphasizing the self-destructive nature of such paths.
  • Personified WisdomWisdom is depicted as a figure crying out publicly in the city, offering guidance and reproof, and warning of the dire consequences for those who reject her counsel.
  • Consequences of Rejecting WisdomThose who refuse Wisdom's call, scorn her reproof, and hate knowledge are warned that they will face calamity and destruction, for which she will offer no help.
  • Security in ObedienceIn contrast to the fate of the disobedient, those who hearken to Wisdom's voice are promised safety and freedom from the fear of evil.