(Prov 1:1 NASB) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
Prov 1:1: Most of the proverbs found in Solomon’s book are concise and pointed. They draw the attention of the learner, imprinting themselves upon his memory, teaching him an important truth. Proverbs offer a style of teaching which provokes the learner to thoughtful consideration by wit, contrast, common sense, and symbolism. Unlike the rest of the Bible, most of the proverbs consist of a single verse with no other literary context. They are not intended to be read in large chunks but studied individually, with time taken to ponder each one.
(Prov 1:2 NASB) To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,
Prov 1:2: The Hebrew word for wisdom is “hokmah.” It can be defined as “the proper application of knowledge” or “the ability to discern between good and evil, right and wrong.”
Elohim tells us that wisdom (Heb. – hokmah) is keeping His Torah (Deut. 4:4-6). In Scriptures keeping His Torah is tied together with fearing Elohim (Job 28:28, Psalm 19:7, 111:10, 119:98-100, Jer. 8:9). Paul knew that wisdom that leads to salvation comes from Torah (2 Tim. 3:14-17).
Solomon was qualified to write on the subject of wisdom because he was granted wisdom by Elohim (1 Kings 3:5-12).
(Prov 1:3 NASB) To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;
Prov 1:3: The Proverbs are to give us wisdom to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity. Solomon displayed instruction in wise behavior and justice many times in his life (1 Kings 3:20-28).
(Prov 1:4 NASB) To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,
Prov 1:4: The Proverbs give prudence to the naive, which will help keep them from being misled. The Proverbs give the youth knowledge and discretion, which is the ability to form plans from knowledge.
(Prov 1:5 NASB) A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
Prov 1:5: The Proverbs will benefit the wise man as well as the young and simple.
(Prov 1:6 NASB) To understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Prov 1:6: The Proverbs help us understand anything that needs to be figured out or that needs interpretation.
(Prov 1:7 NASB) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov 1:7: The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of Yahweh is intricately tied to following His Commandments (Psalm 112:1, Ecc. 12:13, Deut 10:12-13).
(Prov 1:8 NASB) Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
Prov 1:8: Wisdom takes on the personification of parents and being obedient to them. The son is going to see a comparison between the ways of the foolish and the ways of the wise.
(Prov 1:9 NASB) Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck.
Prov 1:9: The father’s instruction and mother’s teaching are beautiful awards to those who heed them.
(Prov 1:10 NASB) My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
(Prov 1:11 NASB) If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
(Prov 1:12 NASB) Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
(Prov 1:13 NASB) We shall find all kinds of precious wealth, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
(Prov 1:14 NASB) Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,”
Prov 1:14: A young man, given to his own devices, can get involved in a lot of evil. Here he is warned against consenting to evil things that others will entice him with.
(Prov 1:15 NASB) My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
(Prov 1:16 NASB) For their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed blood.
(Prov 1:17 NASB) Indeed, it is useless to spread the net In the eyes of any bird;
Prov 1:17: He is advised to avoid sinners. Even a bird knows enough to avoid an obvious trap.
(Prov 1:18 NASB) But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.
(Prov 1:19 NASB) So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.
Prov 1:19: Violance will overcome the life of those who live by it.
(Prov 1:20 NASB) Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;
(Prov 1:21 NASB) At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings:
Prov 1:21: Wisdom is personified as a woman calling in the streets of a crowded city. But no one listens
(Prov 1:22 NASB) “How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
(Prov 1:23 NASB) “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
Prov 1:23: Reproof is turning from evil toward that which is good (Isa. 5:1-3, 6-9, Jer. 3:14-15).
(Prov 1:24 NASB) “Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention;
(Prov 1:25 NASB) And you neglected all my counsel, And did not want my reproof;
(Prov 1:26 NASB) I will even laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,
(Prov 1:27 NASB) When your dread comes like a storm, And your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come on you.
(Prov 1:28 NASB) “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me,
Prov 1:28: If man refuses the wisdom and counsel of Elohim, He will ignore their cries for calls for help in their anguish (Jer. 11:10-11, Ezek. 8:18, Micah 3:4, Zech. 7:12-13, Matt. 7:22-23).
(Prov 1:29 NASB) Because they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
(Prov 1:30 NASB) “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.
(Prov 1:31 NASB) “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, And be satiated with their own devices.
(Prov 1:32 NASB) “For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them, And the complacency of fools shall destroy them.
(Prov 1:33 NASB) “But he who listens to me shall live securely, And shall be at ease from the dread of evil.”
Prov 1:33: Because they hated knowledge, Elohim would not listen to them in their time of distress. But those who listen to His Torah obediently will live securely (Psalm 25:12-14, Isa. 48:18-19).
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas