Who is speaking in this passage and who is being addressed?

The opening lines are introduced as the sayings of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. He speaks like a father to “my son,” but the words are meant for anyone who wants to grow in wisdom, especially the simple and the young. Later in the passage, wisdom is pictured as a woman calling out loudly in public places. She speaks to simple people, mockers, and fools, urging them to turn at her correction before trouble and terror overtake them.

Why does Solomon warn his son not to join sinners who plot violence?

Solomon warns his son because these sinners invite him into a life built on hurting others for gain. They talk about ambushing the innocent, taking their goods, and sharing one purse, as if crime will make them rich and close. Solomon explains that this path is deadly. Their feet hurry to do evil, and in the end they are really setting a trap for their own lives. Everyone who is greedy for gain, he says, walks this kind of road that can destroy both victims and the greedy themselves.

What does it mean that wisdom cries out in the streets and public places?

Wisdom is pictured as a person, a woman lifting her voice where people gather, like streets, busy squares, and city gates. This picture shows that God’s wisdom is not hidden away for only a few. It is held out openly, calling to all kinds of people, especially those who are simple, those who laugh at what is right, and those who hate knowledge. Wisdom calls them to turn when she corrects them, promising to pour out her spirit and make her words clear if they will respond.

Why does wisdom say she will not answer when people finally call to her?

Wisdom describes people who have stubbornly refused her again and again. They hated knowledge, would not choose the fear of the Lord, pushed away all counsel, and despised correction. When disaster comes like a storm and they panic, they begin to cry out, but not from a changed heart. The passage shows that constant refusal has consequences. There comes a point when the time for turning back is past, and they must live with the bitter results of the path they chose for themselves.

What does this passage teach about listening to parents?

The passage urges, “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother.” Their teaching is pictured as an ornament of grace on the head and chains around the neck, meaning it is something that gives beauty and honor. Listening to godly parents is part of learning wisdom and living under God’s good order. Ignoring them is not just rude; it cuts a person off from an important way God guides and protects, especially when facing tempting voices from others.

How does greed for gain lead to harm according to this passage?

Greed for gain drives people to see others mainly as a way to get more. In the passage, greedy people are ready to shed blood and rob the innocent to fill their houses with goods. Solomon says that this way of life takes away the life of the owners of what is stolen, and also traps the greedy themselves. They end up lying in wait for their own blood. Greed blinds them to danger, and the very plans meant to make them rich instead bring shame, trouble, and even death.

What promise is given to those who listen to wisdom’s call?

At the end of the passage, there is a clear promise for anyone who listens to wisdom. It says that whoever heeds her will live in safety and be at ease, without being in constant fear of evil. This does not mean a life without any trouble, but a settled safety under God’s care instead of the panic that comes on those who ignored wisdom. Those who listen accept correction, walk away from violent and greedy paths, and live with a quiet trust rather than constant dread.

Prov.1.1

Proverbs 1:1

Q: What does “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” mean here?

In this passage, the fear of the Lord is not a terror that drives people away from God, but a deep respect, trust, and willingness to obey him. It means taking God seriously, listening to what he says, and shaping life around his will. This attitude is the starting point for real knowledge and wisdom. Without it, a person may know many facts but will miss what truly matters. Those called “fools” in the passage despise this kind of wisdom and instruction.

KJV

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

The Beginning of Knowledge

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

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

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

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

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

6 To 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.

The Enticement of Sin

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

9 For 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wisdom Calls Aloud

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.