Outline
- Prologue: Purpose and Theme (1:1-7)
- The Superiority of the Way of Wisdom (1:8;9:18)
- Appeals and Warnings Confronting Youth (1:8-33)
1. Enticements to secure happiness by violence (1:8-19)
2. Warnings against rejecting wisdom (1:20-33)
1. Benefits of accepting wisdom's instructions (ch. 2)
2. Wisdom bestows well-being (3:1-20)
3. Wisdom's instructions and benefits (3:21-35)
4. Challenge to hold on to wisdom (ch. 4)
1. Warning against adultery (ch. 5)
2. Warning against perverse ways (6:1-19)
3. Cost of committing adultery (6:20-35)
4. Warning against the enticements of an adulteress (ch. 7)
1. Wisdom's appeal (ch. 8)
2. Invitations of wisdom and folly (ch. 9)
- The Main Collection of Solomon's Proverbs (10:1;22:16)
- The Thirty Sayings of the Wise (22:17;24:22)
- Additional Sayings of the Wise (24:23-34)
- Hezekiah's Collection of Solomon's Proverbs (chs. 25-29)
- The Sayings of Agur (ch. 30)
- The Sayings of King Lemuel (31:1-9)
- Epilogue: The Ideal Wife (31:10-31)
- His Character
- He Is Teachable, Not Intractable
- He Is Righteous, Not Wicked
1. He fears the Lord (1:7; 14:16; see below under relationship to the Lord)
2. He hates what is false (13:5)
4. He does what is righteous (2:20)
5. He speaks the truth (22:21)
- He Is Humble, Not Proud (15:33)
- He Is Self-controlled, Not Rash
1. His temperament
1. He is self-controlled (29:11)
2. He has a calm spirit (17:27)
3. He is slow to become angry (29:8,11)
2. 2. His actions
1. He is cautious, not hasty (19:2)
2. He thinks before he acts (13:16; 14:8)
3. He thinks before he speaks (12:23; 15:2)
- He Is Forgiving, Not Vindictive
1. He is patient (19:11)
2. He is concerned about goodwill/peace (14:9)
- His Relationships
- To the Lord
3. He is ever mindful of the Lord (3:6)
6. He confesses his sin (28:13)
- To His Family
1. To his parents
1. Respects them (17:6; contrast 30:17)
2. Listens to them (23:22; cf. 1:8; 4:1)
3. Seeks to bring them honor and joy
2. By being righteous (23:24)
3. By being diligent (10:5)
2. To his wife
1. He appreciates her
2. He praises her (31:28)
3. He trusts her (31:11)
4. He is faithful to her (5:15-20)
3. To his children
2. He is concerned about them (1:8-9:18)
3. He trains them (22:6)
1. Reasons for training them
1. Own peace of mind and joy (29:17)
2. By teaching/instructing them (1:10; chs. 5-7; 28:7; cf. 4:1-9)
3. By disciplining them
1. By verbal correction (13:1)
4. He provides for their
- To His Friends and Neighbors
1. To his friends
1. He values them (27:10)
2. He is constant to them (17:17; 18:24)
3. He gives them counsel (27:9,17; cf. 27:6; 28:23)
2. To his neighbors
1. He fulfills his obligations (3:27-28)
2. He strives for peace (3:29-30)
3. He does not outstay his welcome (25:17)
- His Words
- The Power of His Words
1. Their power
2. Their limitation
1. No substitute for deeds (14:23)
2. Cannot alter the facts (26:23-26)
3. Cannot compel response (29:19)
- The Character of His Words
2. They are few, not many (10:19)
1. Not boastful (27:2)
2. Not argumentative (17:14)
3. Not contentious (29:9)
4. Not a gossip
3. They are calm, not emotional
2. Gentle and peaceable (15:1,18)
3. Yet persuasive (25:15)
- The Source of His Words
1. His heart/character (compare 4:23 with Mt 12:33-35)
2. Negatively, he is not
2. Hateful (26:24,28)
3. Reflections (15:28)
The Benefits of Wisdom
2 My child,[c] listen to what I say,
and treasure
my commands.
2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
and
concentrate on understanding.
3 Cry out for insight,
and ask for
understanding.
4 Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them
like hidden treasures.
5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the
LORD,
and you will
gain knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD grants wisdom!
From his
mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a
shield to those who walk with integrity.
8 He guards the paths of the just
and protects
those who are faithful to him.
9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and
fair,
and you will
find the right way to go.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and
knowledge will fill you with joy.
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those
whose words are twisted.
13 These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.
14 They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they
enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
15 Their actions are crooked,
and their
ways are wrong.
16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
from the
seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
17 She has abandoned her husband
and ignores
the covenant she made before God.
18 Entering her house leads to death;
it is the
road to the grave.[d]
19 The man who visits her is doomed.
He will
never reach the paths of life.
20 So follow the steps of the good,
and stay on
the paths of the righteous.
21 For only the godly will live in the land,
and those
with integrity will remain in it.
22 But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the
treacherous will be uprooted.
Trusting in the LORD
3 My child,[e] never forget the things I have taught
you.
Store my
commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your
life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them
around your neck as a reminder.
Write them
deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will
earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
do not
depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will
show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead,
fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength
for your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the
best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your
vats will overflow with good wine.
11 My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline,
and don’t be
upset when he corrects you.
12 For the LORD corrects those he loves,
just as a
father corrects a child in whom he delights.[f]
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who
gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her
wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you
desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches
and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways
are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are
those who hold her tightly.
19 By wisdom the LORD founded the earth;
by
understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth
burst forth,
and the dew
settles beneath the night sky.
21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and
discernment.
Hang on to
them,
22 for they will refresh your soul.
They are
like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way,
and your
feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie
down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the
destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the LORD is your security.
He will keep
your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in
your power to help them.
28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
“Come back
tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”
29 Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
for those
who live nearby trust you.
30 Don’t pick a fight without reason,
when no one
has done you harm.
31 Don’t envy violent people
or copy
their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the LORD,
but he
offers his friendship to the godly.
33 The LORD curses the house of the wicked,
but he
blesses the home of the upright.
34 The LORD mocks the mockers
but is
gracious to the humble.[g]
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools
are put to shame!
A
Father’s Wise Advice
4 My children,[h] listen when your father corrects
you.
Pay
attention and learn good judgment,
2 for I am giving you good guidance.
Don’t turn
away from my instructions.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
tenderly
loved as my mother’s only child.
4 My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my
commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget
my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect
you.
Love her,
and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever
else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her,
and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will
present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child,[i] listen to me and do as I say,
and you will
have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you
in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you
run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them,
for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t
follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away
and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done
their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest
until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink
the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of
dawn,
which shines
ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no
idea what they are stumbling over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen
carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them
penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing
to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it
determines the course of your life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away
from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the
safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your
feet from following evil.
