Proverbs 1

Of the profit and utility of these Proverbs, ver.1, etc. The duty of children to their Parents 8. An admonition to beware of the company of the wicked 11. The eternal wisdom it self is brought in, complaining that she is despised, exhorting to repentance, and threatening everlasting destruction to all disobedient ones, and promising assured happiness to the obedient, 20.

1. The Proverbs, [See the Hebrew word, 1 King.4.on verse 32.] of Salomon the son of David King of Israel:

2. To know wisdom, [Meaning a sure and grounded knowledge of Divine and Humane things how to order ones self aright, both in matter of faith and life. Compare 1 King 3.on verse 14.] and discipline; [meaning the instruction which is given, to attain unto wisdom] to understand the saying of understanding; [or, the words, or sayings, that are understandingly propounded. This understanding here spoken of is held to be the wisdom and prudence of the spirit, whereby wisdom is well managed, and employed to the right use or end. Compare 1 Kings 3.on verse 12.]

3. To receive the instruction of good understanding; [To wit, whereby a man be come judicious, wise, intelligent, and prudent in all that may befall him, concerning below, Chapter 3.4. and 13.15. and chapter 21.16.] Justice, [understand hereby, the whole duty which we owe unto God, and our neighbour according to the direction of the first and second Table] and Right, [to wit, whereby we do and perform unto our neighbour, that which we are bound to do and perform unto him, according to the prescript and direction of the second Table properly] and Equities. [which must be upheld and kept in all dealings and differences with men according to the nature of love, and according as the thing it self requireth.]

4. To give subtilty [This word here is taken in a good sence, for a quick, nimble, subtile, and sharp wit, or apprehension, as below, chap.8.verse 5.12. item, 19.25. Elsewhere it is taken in a bed sence, for craftiness, mischievousness, as Exod.21.14. Jos.9.4. Job 5:12. and 15.5.] to the simple, [this word is sometimes taken in a bad sence, for those who by reason of their dullness, stupidity and blockishness do easily believe, and suffer themselves easily to be turned aside, and to be missed out of the way that is good. See Job 5.on verse 2. So also v. Sometimes the Hebrew word is taken in a good sense, for those that are teachable, harmless, sincere, and down right, and would easily be deceived and hurt by the wicked, unless God, (in whom they trust) as a gracious Father, did keep and preserve them, Psalms 19:8. and 11.6.6. below chapter 19.25. Matth.10.16.] to the young man [both in years and in understanding] knowledge of the things that ought to be known: but also of the grounds and reasons thereof] and discretion. [that is, a wise and serious, or judicious consideration. [that is, a wise and serious, or judicious consideration, accompanied with a singular prudence. So below, Chapter 2.11. and 3.21. See Job 21. The Annotat.on v.27.]

5. He that is wise will hear, and increase in learning; [See of the Hebrew word translated learning, Job chap.11.on verse 4. Or, will augment learning, or increase in apprehension. Compare below, chapter 9.9. Hebr. Properly add learning] and he that is of understanding, shall attain unto wise counsel: [Hebr. Wise counsels, in the plural number. See of this word, Job 37.on v.12.]

6. To understand a Proverb, [See above on verse 1.] and the interpretation] to wit, of the same Proverb. Others, skilful sayings; that is apt or fit eloquence, to utter a mans words well] the words of the wise, and their riddles. [that is, their sayings, which have a hidden and deep sense or meaning. See Judg.14.on v.1.2. and 1 Kings 10.on vers.1.]

7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: [that is, the ground and foundation of true wisdom, to wit, to obtain it fully; even as in the building of an house, the foundation is the beginning of the rest of the building, to finish and perfect it. See Psalm 11.on v.10. item, Job 28:28. Prov.9.10. Zech.12.15.] (but) fools [understand by those for the most part, men, that having drunk in false opinions, do not follow the right way of wisdom, and the fear of God. See Job 5.on v.2.] despise knowledge and instruction.

8. My son, [So Salomon calleth all those that hear, or read his Doctrine, to shew that he doth not onely propound it with a fatherly mind and affection, but that they also ought to receive and entertain it with a child like and most obedient heart and inclination. So below, verse 10.15. and chap.2.1. and 3.1. etc. Compare Judg.17.on v.10. 1 Kings 2.on v.12. Psalm 34.on v.12.] hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the Dotrine [or Law, or Instruction. See below, Chapter 3.1. and 4.2. and 6.20.23. and 7.2.] of thy Mother.

9. For they shall be an acceptable ornament, a gracious addition unto thine head, [Hebr. An addition of acceptableness, etc. That is, which shall make thee acceptable of thy mother: and respected. So below, chap.4.9.] and chains on thy neck: Hebr. Throat.]

10. My son, if the sinners [Meaning gross and impotent sinners. See 1 Sam.25.on verse 18.] entice thee, [or, would seduce thee; that is, shall seek to persuade and inveigle thee with fair words. See of the Hebrew word rendered here enticed, Judge 14.on verse 14. Consent thou not. [Compare Prov.4.24.]

11. If they say, Go with us, let us lurk for blood, [To wit, to shed it, by killing and murdering. Blood is used for killing, or murdering. See Gen.37. on verse 26.] (let us) hide our selves [that is, lie in wait, or, lay wait. So Psal.56. and below verse 18.] against the innocent, without cause: [that is, without his deserving. So Psalms 35:7.]

12. Let us swallowed them up alive, [That is, without pity or compassion. Compare Psalms 124:3.] as the grave, [that is, as the grave swalloweth up the dead bodies. Compare below chap.27.20. and 30.16.] yea whole and all, as these that go down into the pit: [Heb.the goers down of the pit. So Gen.23.10. the enterers in of his City gate; that is, those that entered in at the gate of his City. So Psalms 78:9. shooters of the bow; that is, those that shoot with the bow.]

13. We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14. Thou shalt cast in thy lot in the midst among us, [That is, help to share the prey with us, which is commonly done by casting or drawing of lots, when every one desireth to draw out his share] we will all (of us) have it in common, and divide it amongst our selves.]

15. My son, walk not in the way them, [that is, keep no their company, nor converse with them. Compare the phrase, 1 Sam.25.15. Psalms 1:1.] refrain thy foot from their path: [that is, go not with them in their wicked ways. Hereby may be also understood, the affections, inclinations, and motions of the mind or soul: For as the feet carry the body hither and thither; so is the spirit of a man led on and carried by the affections, to sundry devices and practises. Compare below verse 16. And 5.5. and 6.18, &c.]

16. For their feet run to evil; [That is, to do evil, or to hurt others] and they make haste to shed blood.

17. Surely the net is spread in vain before the eyes of all manner of fowl. [Hebr. Of all Lord of the wing. That is, of all manner if fowl, or, all that hath wings. See Gen.14.on verse 13. The net spread in vain, etc. Meaning, in respect of the silly bird, because it taketh no warning by the spreading abroad of the net, to shun and avoid danger; but is onely carried by a greedy appetite and desire to the bait. Some apply this thus: that the birds when see the net spread, are thereby warned, and fly away, but the wicked are so dull and senseless, that they even spread their own nets wherein they shall be taken. But the sense of the proverb seemeth to be this: As a bird doth in vain see the net spread abroad, not heeding it, but having her eyes fixed onely upon the bait, and so by falling on its taken: so wicked men and evil doers regard not the danger, where into they put themselves, when for some temporal gain or profit, they hurt their neighbour, but fall into the hands of the Magistrate, who punisheth them according to their deservings, or else are punished some other way by God himself.]

18. And these [To wit, they, of whom is spoken above, verse 15,16.] lurk for their (own) blood, and hide themselves [see above on verse 11.] against their (own) souls. [the meaning is, that they bring their own lives to ruine and destruction, by seeking after the lives of others. Compare below chap.8.verse 36. And the Annot.]

19. So are the paths [that is, the intentions, purpose, deeds, and practises. Compare Gen.6.on ver.12. also below chap.2.15. and 22.25.] of every one, that practiseth covetousness: [Hebr. That covets covetousness, or, coveteth with covetousness. So below chap.15.27. Jer.6.13. Ezek.22.27. Hab.2.9. The Hebrew word is for the most part taken in a bad sense, for filthy, covetous, and dishonest lucre or gain. See Gen.37.26. Exod.18.21. 1 Sam.8.3. Psalms 119:36. below chap.28.16. Isa.56.11.] it [to wit, covetousness] will catch [that is, bring to destruction, as a bird is caught, and cometh to its death by the bait, after which it flyeth] the soul of the masters thereof. [that is, of those that study or practise covetousness. See of the word Baal, Gen.14.on verse 13.]

20. The Sepreme Wisdom [Hebr. Wisdom in the plural number, that is, the highest, most excellent, or supreme wisdom. So below chap.9.1. and Psalms 49:4. so Job 40.verse 10. A great beast is called Behemot; that is, beasts in the plural number. This is done to aggravate, or to multiply things. Oth. Every wisdom, or, manifold wisdom, or, (wisdom) of wisdoms. By this wisdom may be understood, either the essential wisdom of the Father, which is the Son of God, whereof see below chap.8. or the wisdom contained in the holy Scripture, which far exceedeth all the wisdom of men. Some understand the wisdom, which is revealed by the Word of God, and by the works of Divine Providence] cryeth aloud without; [to wit, by the Preachers of the word of God, or also by the works of Creation, and upholding, and governing of all things] she lifteth up her voice [Hebr. Giveth, &c. That is, she lifteth up her voice, and causeth it to be heard. So Gen.45.2. below chap.2.3. and 8.1.] in the streets.

21. She cryeth in the front of the stirs, [Hebr. In the head of the stirs. Understand the places where great concourse or assembling of people was, and wherein also was much stir anmd noise] at the doors of the gates [where judgement was kept, and consequently where were great meetings and gathereds of people together. See Gen.22. on verse 17.] she uttereth her sayings in the city. [Meaning every city in the land of Israel.]

22. Ye simple ones, [These are the words of wisdom, which Salomon bringeth in speaking after this manner. Of the word simple, see above on verse 4.] how long will ye love simplicity? And the scorners? And fools [understand not idiots, or naturals fools, senseless persons, that have not the common use of reason and understanding, as other men have; but such as are deprived of true wisdom, leading to everlasting life, neither are enclined or bent to seek and endeavour after it, but onely cumber and trouble themselves about the things pertaining to this temporal life] hate knowledge?

23. Turn you unto my reproof: [To wit, to hear and obey it, or to follow after it. Oth. Turn you at my reproof: that is, repent and amend your lives by virtue of my reproof. Understand such a reproof as is done by words of instruction and exhortation. So below ver.25.30.] I will abundantly pour out. [a phrase borrowed or taken from fountains, out of which water issueth, or gusheth forth in great abundance. See of the Hebrew word, Psal.19.on verse 3. It is used sometimes in a good sense, as here, and so in the forementioned place: and sometimes in a bad sense, as below, chap.15.2,28.] my spirit unto you; [that is, the knowledge of my mind and will. See the word spirit often taken in the like sense, that is, for the gift of understanding, Psalm 76.verse 13. Below chap.29.11. Joel 2:28.] I will make known my words unto you.

24. Seeing I have called, and ye have refused; (I) have stretched out mine hand, [To wit, to invite you to repentance. See the like phrase Isa.65.2.] and there was no man that regarded: [Compare Isa.65.12. and 66.4. Jer.13.10.]

25. And ye have rejected [The Hebrew word is taken in the like sense, below chap.4.15. and 8.33. and 13.18. and 15.32.] all my counsel; [Oth. Have withdrawn your selves from, or, bereaved (your selves of) my counsel: Oth. Have caused my counsel to cease] and would not reproof:

26. Therefore I will also laugh at your destruction: I will mock when your fear [That is, the evil, and mischief, whereat ye shall be sore afraid and astonished: or, which ye exceedingly fear. So in the following verse. See Job 39.on verse 25.] cometh.

27. When your fear cometh as a destruction, [Which spreadeth it self far and near with a great sound or noise, and doth exceeding much harm. See of this similitude also, Psalms 35:8. and the annotations below, cha.3.25. Isa.10.3. and 47.11.] and thy destruction cometh as a whirlwind; [that is, very swiftly, terribly, and violently. See of such a kind of similitude also, Job 9.on verse 17.] when distress and anguish cometh upon you; [compare Job 27:9. and 35.12. Isa.1.15. Jer.11. verse 11. And 14.13. Ezek.8.18. Mich.3.4.]

28. Then shall they cry unto me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, [That is, seek me with great care and diligence. See Job 8.on verse 5.] but (they) shall not find me:

29. Because they hated knowledge, [Of knowledge, [Of knowledge, see above on verse 4.] and did not choose the fear of the LORD.

30. They consented not to my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31. So [Or, therefore] shall they eat of the fruit of their (own) way, [that is, receive, and get the punishment, or recompence of their wicked works. See Job 21.on verse 25. The word fruit, here used, is taken for all manner of, either evil, or good, that issueth or proceedeth from any thing. It’s taken for evil, as here; so Isa.10 12. Jerem.6.19. Micha 7.verse 13. Lu.6.43. For good, below chap.8.19. and 31.31. Amos 6:12. Psalm 5.22. Philip.1.11.] and satisfy the selves with their (own) counsels. [that is, bring a sad inundation of plagues upon themselves, occasioned by their obstinate and contumacious minds. See of this phrase Job 7:4. and the annot.]

32. For the turning away of the simple [To wit, whereby they turn away themselves from the teachings and instructions of wisdom] shall slay them, [or wit, the simple: which is done by means of the Magistrate, or other means yea by God himself] and the prosperity of fools [meaning which they, or other wicked men oftentimes have to devise: whereby they are hardened in their backsliding and course of sinning] shall destroy them.

33. But whoso hearkeneth unto me, shall dwell safely: [Hebr. In, or, with safety: that is, not only without ill entertainment, but also without fear of it. The same phrase is also found, Lev.25.18. Deut.33.12. Isaiah 47:8. Jerem.23.6. Ezek.39.26, etc.] and he shall be quiet from fear of evil.