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Scott's Reference Library
Proverbs 1:1 through Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:20 through Proverbs 1:33 (NIV)
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street,
she raises her voice in the public squares;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out,
in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you had responded to my rebuke,
I would have poured out my heart to you
and made my thoughts known to you.
24 But since you rejected me when I called
and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,
25 since you ignored all my advice
and would not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me.
29 Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,
30 since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
The lessons here given are plain, and likely to benefit those who feel their
own ignorance, and their need to be taught. If young people take heed to their
ways, according to Solomon’s Proverbs, they will gain knowledge and discretion.
Solomon speaks of the most important points of truth, and a greater than Solomon
is here. Christ speaks by his word and by his Spirit. Christ is the Word and the
Wisdom of God, and he is made to us wisdom.
Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who follow their own devices, without
regard to reason, or reverence for God. Children are reasonable creatures, and
when we tell them what they must do, we must tell them why. But they are corrupt
and wilful, therefore with the instruction there is need of a law. Let Divine
truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they
shall be so to us.
Solomon, having showed how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of
Satan, here declares how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God.
Christ himself is Wisdom, is Wisdoms. Three sorts of persons are here called by
Him: 1. Simple ones. Sinners are fond of their simple notions of good and evil,
their simple prejudices against the ways of God, and flatter themselves in their
wickedness. 2. Scorners. Proud, jovial people, that make a jest of every thing.
Scoffers at religion, that run down every thing sacred and serious. 3. Fools.
Those are the worst of fools that hate to be taught, and have a rooted dislike
to serious godliness. The precept is plain; Turn you at my reproof. We do not
make a right use of reproofs, if we do not turn from evil to that which is good.
The promises are very encouraging. Men cannot turn by any power of their own;
but God answers, Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you. Special grace is
needful to sincere conversion. But that grace shall never be denied to any who
seek it. The love of Christ, and the promises mingled with his reproofs, surely
should have the attention of every one. It may well be asked, how long men mean
to proceed in such a perilous path, when the uncertainty of life and the
consequences of dying without Christ are considered? Now sinners live at ease,
and set sorrow at defiance; but their calamity will come. Now God is ready to
hear their prayers; but then they shall cry in vain. Are we yet despisers of
wisdom? Let us hearken diligently, and obey the Lord Jesus, that we may enjoy
peace of conscience and confidence in God; be free from evil, in life, in death,
and for ever.