Authorship. Purpose
(Proverbs 9:1-12)
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The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
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These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
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that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
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These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
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Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
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to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
Main theme. Warnings against violence
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The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge-fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
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they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
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My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
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If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to commit murder, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.
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Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit.
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We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.
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Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
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My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
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their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
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For it is useless to spread the net to trap a bird while the bird is watching.
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These men lie in wait to kill themselves-they set a trap for themselves.
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So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.
Warning against neglecting wisdom
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Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
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at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
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“How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?
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Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
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I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.
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But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
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I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes,
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when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
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Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.
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Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
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they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
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They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
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For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.
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But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
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