Proverbs 1

The Prologue

1Here are kingdom revelations, words to live by,

and words of wisdom given to empower you to reign in life, # 1:1 As stated in the introduction, the Hebrew word for “proverbs” means more than just a wise saying. It can also mean “to rule, to reign in power, to take dominion.”

written as proverbs by Israel’s King Solomon, # 1:1 The name Solomon means “peaceable.” There is a greater one than Solomon who gives peace to all of his followers. His name is Jesus. Solomon was the seed of David; we are the seed of Jesus Christ. Solomon had an encounter with God after asking for a discerning heart (1 Kings 3:5–14). This pleased God, so he gave Solomon wisdom, riches, and power. God is ready to impart these same things today to those who ask him. See James 1:5–8. David’s son.

2Within these sayings will be found the revelation of wisdom # 1:2 There are six Hebrew words translated “wisdom” in the book of Proverbs. Some of them require an entire phrase in English to convey the meaning. The word used here is chokmah, and it is used in Proverbs forty-two times. Forty-two is the number of months Jesus ministered and the number of generations from Abraham to Christ listed in Matt. 1.

and the impartation of spiritual understanding.

Use them as keys to unlock the treasures of true knowledge.

3Those who cling to these words will receive discipline

to demonstrate wisdom # 1:3 The Hebrew word translated “wisdom” here also means “righteousness.” in every relationship

and to choose what is right and just and fair.

4These proverbs will give you great skill

to teach the immature and make them wise,

to give youth the understanding of their design and destiny.

5For the wise, these proverbs will make you even wiser,

and for those with discernment,

you will be able to acquire brilliant strategies for leadership.

6These kingdom revelations will break open your understanding

to unveil the deeper meaning of parables,

poetic riddles, and epigrams,

and to unravel the words and enigmas of the wise.

7We cross the threshold of true knowledge

when we live in obedient devotion to God. # 1:7 Many translations render this “the fear of the Lord.” This means much more than the English concept of fear. It also implies submission, awe, worship, and reverence. The Hebrew word used here is found fourteen times in Proverbs. The number fourteen represents spiritual perfection. The number fourteen is mentioned three times in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:1–17). It is also the number for Passover. You will pass from darkness to wisdom’s light by the “fear” of the Lord.

Stubborn know-it-alls # 1:7 Or “foolish ones.” There are three Hebrew words translated “fool” in Proverbs and another six that are related to a fool or foolish acts. A fool is described in Proverbs as one who hates true wisdom and correction, with no desire to acquire revelation knowledge. will never stop to do this,

for they scorn true wisdom and knowledge.

The Wisdom of a Father

8Pay close attention, my child, to your father’s wise words

and never forget your mother’s instructions. # 1:8 Many expositors see this verse as the words of David to Solomon, yet we all must give heed to this command. The words of our Father (God) and our mother (the church, the freewoman) will bring us wisdom. See Gal. 4:21–31.

9For their insight will bring you success,

adorning you with grace-filled thoughts

and giving you reins to guide your decisions. # 1:9 The Hebrew text here is literally translated “adornment for your head, chains for your neck.” The head is a metaphor for our thoughts, the neck a symbol for willing obedience that guides our decisions, in contrast to being stiff-necked or proud. See Phil. 2:5–7.

10When peer pressure compels you to go with the crowd

and sinners invite you to join in,

you must simply say, “No!”

11When the gang says—

“We’re going to steal and kill and get away with it.

12We’ll take down the rich and rob them.

We’ll swallow them up alive

and take what we want from whomever we want.

13Then we’ll take their treasures and fill our homes with loot.

14So come on and join us.

Take your chance with us.

We’ll divide up all we get;

we’ll each end up with big bags of cash!”—

15my son, refuse to go with them and stay far away from them.

16For crime is their way of life and bloodshed their specialty.

17To be aware of their snare is the best way of escape.

18They’ll resort to murder to steal their victim’s assets,

but eventually it will be their own lives that are ambushed.

19In their ungodly disrespect for God

they bring destruction on their own lives.

Wisdom’s Warning

20Wisdom’s praises are sung in the streets

and celebrated far and wide.

21Yet wisdom’s song is not always heard in the halls of higher learning.

But in the hustle and bustle of everyday life

its lyrics can always be heard above the din of the crowd. # 1:21 Literally translated, this verse reads “Wisdom sings out in the streets and speaks her voice in the squares, crying out at the head of noisy crowds and at the entrance of the city gates.” This is a parabolic statement of wisdom being heard everywhere and in every place.

You will hear wisdom’s warning as she preaches courageously

to those who stop to listen:

22“Foolish ones, how much longer will you cling to your deception? # 1:22 Or “Childish ones, how long will you love your childishness?”

How much longer will you mock wisdom,

you cynical scorners who fight the facts?

23Come back to your senses and be restored to reality.

Don’t even think about refusing my rebuke!

Don’t you know that I’m ready

to pour out my spirit of wisdom upon you

and bring to you the revelation of my words

that will make your heart wise?

24I’ve called to you over and over;

still you refuse to come to me.

I’ve pleaded with you again and again,

yet you’ve turned a deaf ear to my voice.

25Because you have laughed at my counsel

and have insisted on continuing in your stubbornness,

26I will laugh when your calamity comes

and will turn away from you at the time of your disaster.

Make a joke of my advice, will you?

Then I’ll make a joke out of you!

27When the storm clouds of terror gather over your head,

when dread and distress consume you

and your catastrophe comes like a hurricane,

28you will cry out to me, but I won’t answer.

Then it will be too late to expect my help.

When desperation drives you to search for me,

I will be nowhere to be found.

29Because you have turned up your nose at me

and closed your eyes to the facts

and refused to worship me in awe # 1:29 The Hebrew word used here can be translated “fear,” “dread,” “awe,” or “worship.” Nearly every translation uses the word fear or reverence while ignoring the other aspects of the Aramaic word dekhlatha. The New Testament is clear that there is no fear in love. See 1 John 4:18. —

30because you scoffed at my wise counsel

and laughed at my correction—

31now you will eat the bitter fruit of your own ways.

You’ve made your own bed; now lie in it!

So how do you like that?

32Like an idiot you’ve turned away from me

and chosen destruction instead.

Your self-satisfied smugness # 1:32 Or “your abundant prosperity.” will kill you.

33But the one who always listens to me

will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace.

Free from fear, confident and courageous,

that one will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.”

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Proverbs 1: TPT

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Proverbs 1

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

2To know wisdom and instruction;

to discern the words of understanding;

3To receive instruction in wise dealing,

In righteousness and judgement and equity;

4To give subtilty to the simple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion:

5That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;

And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

6To understand a proverb, and a figure;

The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:

But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

8My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

And forsake not the law of thy mother:

9For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head,

And chains about thy neck.

10My 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 Sheol,

And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

13We shall find all precious substance,

We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14Thou shalt cast thy lot among us;

We will 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 they make haste to shed blood.

17For in vain is the net spread, in the eyes of any bird:

18And these 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;

It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20Wisdom crieth aloud in the street;

She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

21She crieth in the chief place of concourse;

At the entering in of the gates,

In the city, she uttereth her words:

22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?

And scorners delight them in 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 in the day of your calamity;

I will mock when your fear cometh;

27When your fear cometh as a storm,

And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind;

When distress and anguish come upon you.

28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer;

They shall seek me diligently, 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 backsliding of the simple shall slay them,

And the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely,

And shall be quiet without fear of evil.

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