Proverbs Chapter 1 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
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:
More Prov.1 Continued
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.
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:
More Prov.1 Continued
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.
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.
About This Proverb:
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
Chapter 1 – Themes: Wisdom, Fear of the Lord, Instruction
| Scholar / Institution & Work | Views on Themes Related to This Proverb (Added Verse for Emphasis) |
|---|---|
| Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215, Stromata, Alexandria) | Wisdom is foundational for moral and spiritual life. Reverence for God is the beginning of ethical understanding (Verses 7–9). |
| Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202, Against Heresies, Lyons) | Moral guidance stems from obedience to divine instruction. Careful attention to teaching protects the soul from folly (Verses 8–9). |
| Origen (c. 184–253, On First Principles, Alexandria) | Listening to instruction nurtures the soul’s moral and spiritual development. Fear of the Lord shapes ethical discernment (Verses 7–8). |
| Augustine of Hippo (354–430, De Doctrina Christiana, Hippo Regius) | Reverence for God cultivates wisdom and insight. Ethical reflection and prudence arise from adherence to divine teaching (Verses 7–9). |
| Basil the Great (c. 329–379, Letters and Ascetic Writings, Caesarea) | Ethical conduct flows from fear of God and careful instruction. Moral vigilance protects against folly (Verses 7–8). |
| Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Homilies on Proverbs, Constantinople) | Wisdom guides both spiritual and practical life. Reverence for God prevents moral and spiritual error (Verses 7–9). |
| John Calvin (1509–1564, Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, Geneva) | Fear of God is the foundation of all wisdom. Instruction strengthens moral judgment and ethical living (Verses 7–8). |
| Matthew Henry (1662–1714, Commentary on the Whole Bible, England) | Listening to guidance cultivates prudence and moral awareness. Reverence for God protects the believer from folly (Verses 7–9). |
| Richard Baxter (1615–1691, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, England) | Wisdom begins with moral attentiveness and reverence for God. Instruction equips the believer for ethical decision-making (Verses 7–8). |
| John Owen (1616–1683, Works on Spiritual Life, England) | Ethical discernment stems from reverence and instruction. Wisdom guards the soul from folly and corruption (Verses 7–9). |
| Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274, Summa Theologica, University of Paris) | Fear of God provides the foundation for prudence and ethical conduct. Instruction and reflection cultivate practical wisdom (Verses 7–9). |
| Peter Lombard (c. 1100–1160, Sentences, University of Paris) | Reverence and attention to moral guidance are essential. Wisdom preserves moral integrity and spiritual safety (Verses 7–9). |
| Richard Hooker (1554–1600, Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, England) | Ethical living is grounded in respect for divine authority. Instruction equips individuals to discern right from wrong (Verses 7–8). |
| Thomas Watson (1620–1686, Body of Divinity, England) | Reverence for God nurtures moral strength and virtue. Following instruction maintains ethical consistency (Verses 7–9). |
| John Lightfoot (1602–1675, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae, Cambridge) | Wisdom is cultivated through attentive learning and fear of God. Ethical reflection safeguards the soul from moral error (Verses 7–9). |
| Hugh Binning (1627–1653, The Christian Academy, Scotland) | Moral and spiritual insight arise from reverence for God. Instruction provides the means to live wisely and ethically (Verses 7–9). |
| Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758, Sermons and Treatises, USA) | Ethical discernment and virtue are rooted in fear of God. Obedience to instruction directs the believer toward wisdom (Verses 7–9). |
| Benedict Spinoza (1632–1677, Ethics, Netherlands) | Rational reflection on moral guidance fosters ethical living. Reverence for the divine promotes consistent moral choices (Verses 7–9). |
| Jean Morin (1591–1659, Ecclesiastical History, France) | Careful attention to instruction develops prudence and moral integrity. Fear of God strengthens ethical decision-making (Verses 7–8). |
| Francis Turretin (1623–1687, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, Geneva) | Wisdom begins with reverence for God and obedience to instruction. Ethical vigilance is sustained through consistent reflection (Verses 7–9). |
