The Beginning of Knowledge
(Proverbs 9:1–12)
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, Pro 10:11Ch 22:91Ch 28:5Ecc 1:1Pro 25:11Ki 2:121Ki 4:31-322Sa 12:24-25
king of Israel,
for gaining wisdom and discipline, Pro 7:4Deu 4:5-61Ki 3:9-122Ti 3:15-17Pro 17:16Pro 16:16Pro 4:5-7Pro 8:5
for comprehending words of insight,
and for receiving instruction in wise living Pro 2:1-9Job 22:221Ki 3:28Pro 8:10-11
and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
To impart prudence to the simple 1 Pro 8:5Pro 8:17Psa 119:9Pro 8:12Pro 8:32Pro 9:4-6Psa 119:1302Ti 2:22
and knowledge and discretion to the young,
let the wise listen and gain instruction, Pro 12:1Pro 9:91Co 10:15Job 34:10Job 34:16Psa 119:98-100Job 34:342Ch 25:16
and the discerning acquire wise counsel
by understanding the proverbs and parables, Psa 78:2Mrk 4:11Psa 49:4Act 8:30-31Heb 5:14Mrk 4:34Ecc 12:11Mat 13:10-17
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, Job 28:28Psa 111:10Pro 9:10Ecc 12:13Pro 15:33Pro 18:2Pro 1:22Pro 1:29-30
but fools 2despise wisdom and discipline.
The Enticement of Sin
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, Pro 6:20Pro 30:17Pro 5:1-22Ti 1:5Pro 2:1Pro 31:1Deu 21:18-21Lev 19:3
and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
For they are a garland of grace on your head Dan 5:29Pro 4:9Gen 41:42Pro 3:22Pro 6:20-21Ezk 16:11Isa 3:19Sng 1:10
and a pendant around your neck.
My son, if sinners entice you, Eph 5:11Pro 16:29Psa 1:1Pro 13:20Deu 13:8Rom 16:18Pro 7:21-23Pro 20:19
do not yield to them.
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, Pro 1:18Jer 5:26Pro 12:6Act 25:3Jer 18:18-20Act 23:15Jer 11:19Jhn 15:25
let us ambush the innocent without cause,
let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Psa 124:3Psa 28:1Rom 3:13Jer 51:34Lam 2:16Lam 2:5Mic 3:2-3Num 16:30-33
and whole like those descending into the Pit.
We will find all manner of precious goods; 1Ti 6:9-10Job 24:2-3Luk 12:15Hag 2:9Isa 10:13-14Jer 22:16-17Nam 2:12Pro 1:19
we will fill our houses with plunder.
Throw in your lot with us;
let us all share one purse”—
my son, do not walk the road with them Psa 119:101Psa 1:1Pro 4:14-15Pro 4:27Psa 26:4-52Co 6:17Pro 13:20Pro 9:6
or set foot upon their path.
For their feet run to evil, Isa 59:7Pro 6:18Pro 4:16Rom 3:5
and they are swift to shed blood.
How futile it is to spread the net Jer 8:7Job 35:11Pro 7:23Isa 1:3
where any bird can see it!
But they lie in wait for their own blood; Psa 9:16Est 7:10Pro 28:17Pro 5:22-23Psa 7:14-16Mat 27:4-5Psa 55:23Pro 9:17-18
they ambush their own lives.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy, Pro 15:272Pe 2:3Hab 2:9Jas 5:1-4Jer 22:17-19Mic 2:1-3Pro 23:3-41Ti 3:3
whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
Wisdom Calls Aloud
Wisdom calls out in the street, Pro 9:3Col 2:31Co 1:24Luk 11:49Pro 8:1-51Co 1:30Mat 13:54Jhn 7:37
she lifts her voice in the square;
in the main concourse 3she cries aloud, Act 5:20Mat 10:27Mat 13:2Pro 9:3Jhn 18:20
at the city gates she makes her speech:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? Pro 1:292Pe 3:3Jhn 3:20Pro 5:12Psa 1:1Luk 19:42Mat 11:29-30Mat 9:13
How long will scoffers delight in their scorn
and fools hate knowledge?
If you had repented at my rebuke, Act 3:19Ezk 33:11Ezk 18:27-30Act 2:36-38Jol 2:28Isa 32:15Isa 55:6-7Pro 12:1
then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you;
I would have made my words known to you.
Because you refused my call, Isa 65:12Rom 10:21Jer 7:13Isa 66:4Heb 12:25-26Ezk 8:18Mat 22:5-6Zec 7:11-12
and no one took my outstretched hand,
because you neglected all my counsel, Luk 7:30Psa 81:11Pro 1:30Pro 12:1Psa 107:112Ch 36:16Pro 5:12
and wanted none of my correction,
in turn I will mock your calamity; Pro 10:24Psa 2:4Psa 37:13Luk 14:24Pro 6:15Jdg 10:14
I will sneer when terror strikes you,
when your dread comes like a storm, Pro 3:25-261Th 5:3Isa 17:13Luk 21:23-26Luk 21:34-35Nam 1:3Pro 10:24-25Psa 58:9
and your destruction like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; Mic 3:4Isa 1:15Jas 4:3Jer 11:11Zec 7:13Mat 25:10-12Job 27:91Sa 8:18
they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
For they hated knowledge Pro 6:23Job 21:14-15Pro 1:22Heb 11:25Isa 27:11Act 7:51-54Jhn 3:20Luk 10:42
and chose not to fear the LORD.
They accepted none of my counsel; Pro 1:25Psa 81:11Jer 8:9Luk 14:18-20Psa 119:173Psa 119:111
they despised all my reproof.
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, Pro 14:14Jer 6:19Job 4:8Pro 22:8Gal 6:7-8Isa 3:10-11Jer 2:19
and be filled with their own devices.
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, Pro 8:36Jer 2:19Jhn 3:36Heb 12:25Luk 16:19-25Deu 32:15-44Heb 12:8Jas 5:5
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, Psa 25:12-13Isa 26:3Psa 112:7-8Jhn 10:27-29Pro 14:26Luk 21:9Pro 8:32-35Luk 21:19
secure from the fear of evil.”