Proverbs 1, Wisdom's Invitation to an Education

We begin a new book, the misle (from mashal) of Solomon. The NASB translate mashal into English as byword, discourse, parable, proverb, taunt or taunt-song. The Hebrew word can apparently represent a variety of short or long wise statement, from a maxim to an allegory (Kindner.) In this book we will see a variety of these, describing a variety of forms of wisdom.

Proverbs 1: 1-6, The many colors of Wisdom
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

 for attaining wisdom and discipline; 

for understanding words of insight;

 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, 

doing what is right and just and fair;

 for giving prudence to the simple, 

knowledge and discretion to the young--

 let the wise listen and add to their learning,

 and let the discerning get guidance--

 for understanding proverbs and parables, 

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The first seven verses of this chapter play the same role as Psalm 1 does to the Psalter: it explains the purpose of the book. This book, consisting primarily, but not exclusively, of proverbs attributed to Solomon, is intended to provide a complexity of thinking patterns that fall, collectively, under the heading of Wisdom. There is understanding and knowledge, discpline and discretion, even answers to philosophical riddles, all of which will be covered in this book.

Proverbs 1: 7, Theme

 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, 

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Implicit in all the Wisdom books of the Old Testament, but explicit here, is the statement that wisdom flows out of the understanding of YHWH. (See Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, Psalm 111:10, and Job 28:28 for similar statements.)

Proverbs 1: 8-9, Advice from parents

 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction 

and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

 They will be a garland to grace your head 

and a chain to adorn your neck.

The body of the wisdom teachings now begins with advice from the elderly to the young. Pay attention to the things your parents have learned, says the Teacher.

Proverbs 1: 10-14, Throw in your lot with us!

 My son, if sinners entice you, 

do not give in to them.

 If they say, "Come along with us; 

let's lie in wait for someone's blood, 

let's waylay some harmless soul;

 let's swallow them alive, like the grave,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

 we will get all sorts of valuable things 

and fill our houses with plunder;

 throw in your lot with us, 

and we will share a common purse"--

This warning comes to the younger adult, attracted by the energetic groups around him (or her.)  Although the advice rings with Old Testament language, it is as useful today as it was in Solomon's time. I am reminded of the various campustowns I've explored. love the university campus, but I am aware that around any American university campus are shops and hawkers who want to entice college students into addictions, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, pornography,... etc. This was true when I was young and certainly true today (we've added more gambling and cannabis shops since.) The goal is to make money off the naivete of the college student; addictions lead to regular profits for the seller, even if the invitation to "party" sounds relatively mild. I love campustown, with its energy, pizza places and bars, but one has to be alert and wise as one walks through.

Proverbs 1: 15-17, No, my son!

 my son, do not go along with them, 

do not set foot on their paths;

 for their feet rush into sin, 

they are swift to shed blood.

 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!

The Teacher warns of a "path", steps that slowly move away from righteousness, toward destruction.

Proverbs 1: 18-19, Trap themselves

 These men lie in wait for their own blood; 

they waylay only themselves!

Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; 

it takes away the lives of those who get it.

The warning is that those who set up the traps fall into them

Proverbs 1:20-22, Wisdom calls

 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, 

she raises her voice in the public squares;

 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, 

in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

 "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? 

How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Wisdom, personified, will call out from time to time in the proverbs. Here she calls people to pay attention, to move away from simplicity and foolishness. The root word hamah, translated "noisy streets" in verse 21 (and translated "concourses" iun the KJV) carries the meaning of "boisterous", or "roaring". Wisdom attempts to shout over the crowds. Is anyone listening?

Proverbs 1: 23-27, Wisdom's rebuke

 If you had responded to my rebuke, 

I would have poured out my heart to you 

and made my thoughts known to you.

 But since you rejected me when I called 

and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,

 since you ignored all my advice 

and would not accept my rebuke,

 I in turn will laugh at your disaster;

 I will mock when calamity overtakes you--

 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, 

when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, 

when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Wisdom is portrayed as warning that she will turn away and laugh when those who ignore her get into trouble. At the beginning of verse 21, the NIV translates the Hebrew word wat·tip̄·rə·‘ū (root para') as merely "ignored" but Alter gives it more force, translating it as "flung aside". He argues that the word is often used for "unbinding hair" and means to put something into disarray. The advice from Wisdom might not just be ignored, but consciously dismissed. 

The last line, says Alter, ends with two Hebrew words in alliteration: tsareah umetsukah ("distress and trouble.")

Proverbs 1: 28, Too late

 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; 

they will look for me but will not find me.

Wisdom warns that a time may come when she is no longer available.

Proverbs 1: 29-32, Fools destroyed

 Since they hated knowledge 

and did not choose to fear the LORD,

 since they would not accept my advice

 and spurned my rebuke,

 they will eat the fruit of their ways 

and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, 

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

In four lines we are told that the foolish hate, do not fear, do not accept, spurn the wisdom of YHWH. Their fate is then given in four more lines.

Proverbs 1:33, But those who listen...

 but whoever listens to me will live in safety 

and be at ease, without fear of harm."

The chapter, this poem on listening to Wisdom, ends with an upbeat promise, that safety, ease, lack of fear comes to those who listen to her.