The chapter begins by naming the proverbs of Solomon and explaining the book's purpose: to gain wisdom, instruction, understanding, prudence, knowledge, discretion, learning, and guidance. The movement culminates in the controlling theological thesis: the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, while fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:1-7
1 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.
The father exhorts the son to hear parental instruction and not forsake his mother's teaching. Wisdom begins at home, under received instruction. The son is warned against sinners who entice him into violence, greed, ambush, and communal evil. Their path appears profitable, but it is self-destructive: they lie in wait for their own blood.
Proverbs 1:8-19
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 plunder.
14 You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”
15 My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
18 but these lay in 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.
Wisdom is personified as crying aloud in public spaces, calling the simple, mockers, and fools to turn at her rebuke. The refusal to listen brings judicial reversal: when calamity comes, Wisdom will not answer those who persistently hated knowledge and rejected the fear of the LORD. The chapter ends with a contrast: the waywardness of the simple kills them, but whoever listens to Wisdom will live securely and be at ease without dread of disaster.
Proverbs 1:20-33
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
29 because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”