Authorship. Purpose
(Proverbs 9:1-12)
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The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
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To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
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To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
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To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
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A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
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To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
Main theme. Warnings against violence
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The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
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My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
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For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
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My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
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If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
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We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit:
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We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
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Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
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My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
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For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
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Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
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So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
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Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
Warning against neglecting wisdom
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Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
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She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
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O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?
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(Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
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Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
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But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
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I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
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Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,
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Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,
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Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
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They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
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Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
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For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
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But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.