A 1:-6-9:18. "The words of the wise". For Solomon. For a Prince and a King. 2nd Person. The "Mother".
B C 10:1-19:19. Proverbs by Solomon. For all. 3rd person
D 19:20-24:34. Proverbs for Solomon. For a Prince and a King. 2nd Person.
B C 25:1-26:28. Proverbs by Solomon. For all. "Copied by the men of Hezekiah". 3rd person.
D 27:1-29:27. Proverbs for Solomon. For a Prince and a King. 2nd Person.
A 30:1-31:31. "The words of Agur" and "The words of Lemuel". For Solomon. For a Prince and a King.
The "Mother".
Heb. maw-shawl', apparently from 'mashal' (4910) in some original sense of superiority in mental action; properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse):--byword, like, parable, proverb. Heb. Mishlai is from Mashal = to rule [Gen. 1:18; 3:16. Ex. 21:8,&c.]. Hence applied to words which are to rule and govern the life. Not a collection of human wisdom, but of Divine rules from heaven for earth. Some proverbs are for a ruler, others are general, and for all men. Mashal is used of an allegory [Ezek 17:2]; a discourse [Num. 23:7,8]; a taunt [Isa. 14:4]; an argument [Job 29:1]; a byword [Jer. 24:9]; a lament [Mic. 2:4]: all Proverbs are distinguished by a parallelism of lines, synonymous, or gradational, or synthetic [i.e. constructive], or antithetic [i.e. contrastive]. These again are arranged [as to order] either in alternate or introverted lines.
Proverbs 1)
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 For discerning wisdom and admonition (or discipline. Sometimes rendered "chastisement");
To perceive the sayings of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of prudence (or good sense),
Justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence (same root as Gen. 3:1. Cp. Matt. 10:16. 1 Sam. 23:22) to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear (illustrations : Eunuch [Acts 8:27,39]; Sergius Paulus [Acts 13:7]; the Bereans [Acts 17:11,12]; Appolos [Acts 18:24-28]), and will increase learning;
And a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the satire (or, the point of what is said);
A A1 1:-6-2:15. Wisdom's Call.
B1 2:16-22. The Foreign Woman.
A2 3:1-4:27. Wisdom's Call.
B2 5:1-23. The Foreign Woman.
A3 6:1-23. Wisdom's Call.
B3 6:24-35. The Foreign Woman.
A4 7:1-4. Wisdom's Call.
B4 7:5-27. The Foreign Woman.
A5 8:1-9:12. Wisdom's Call.
B5 9:13-18. The Foolish Woman.
The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The reverence of the LORD (Yahaveh) is the beginning of knowledge (and only the "beginning', not the end. It is not wisdom itself. True wisdom is to justify God and condemn oneself. See Job 28:28, and cp. 9:10. Ps. 111:10):
But fools (Heb. evil = lax or careless habit of mind and body) have always despised true wisdom and instruction. (Illustrations: Cain [Gen. 4;6-8]; Hophni and Phinehas [1 Sam. 2:12, 25]; Nabal [1 Sam. 25;25]; Rehoboam [1 Kings 12:13]; Athenians [Acts 17:18,32] Judeans and Greeks [1 Cor. 1:18,23,24]. They wont listen. You can't tell them anything. They feel like they know it all already and cut their own path, pride. Those that revere the Lord seek instruction in the Word. Fools don't have the right mind set. They seek knowledge in the ways of the world, not in the Word.)
8 My son, hear the instruction (illustrations: Isaac [Gen. 48:15]; Moses [Heb. 11:23]; Samuel [1 Sam:28; 2:18; 3:19-21]; Timothy [2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15. Acts 16:1,2]) of your father (the address is educational, this being the duty of the father, as contrasted with "the words of the wise", also addressed to "my son" [19:20-23:32; 27:1-29:7),
And forsake not the law of your mother: (Cp. 31:1-9. Hear and do the instructions of your Father, and do your best to obey God's law given to mother Israel.)
9 For they (i.e. instruction and law) shall be an garland of grace to your head,
And chains about your neck. (Showing cheerful and willing obedience, in contrast with stiffneckedness [Ex. 32:9] and pride [Isa. 3:16]. See also Gen. 41:42.)
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Consent you not. (Illustrations: Joseph [Gen. 39:9,10]; prophet [1 Kings 13:8,9]; Jehoshaphat [1 Kings 22:49, contrast 2 Chron. 18:2; 20:35-37]; Joash [2 Chron. 24:17,18])
11 If they say, "Come with us,
Let us lay wait for blood (put for blood-shedding, and then blood-shedding put for the one whose blood was shed. See Isa. 33:15),
Let us lurk privily for an innocent one without cause: (Cp. John 15:25.)
12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave;
And whole, as those that go down into the pit: (This is the downfall of many people who want to do what is right. They are too easily influenced by those who want to do wrong. Take instructions from God, not a bunch of misfits. The misfits are going into the pit, that is to say hell.)
13 We shall find all precious substance,
We shall fill our houses with spoil:
14 Cast in your lot among us;
Let us all have one purse:" (Sinners may have a full purse; however, it is a purse filled with ill-gotten gains that prevent them from entering the kingdom of God.)
15 My son, walk not you in the way with them;
Refrain your foot from their paths:
16 For they run to mischief (quoted in Rom. 3:15),
And make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely in vain the net is spread
In the sight of any bird. (Misguided birds will fly right into the net of antichrist to their spiritual death. Don't fly into that net. The sight of the net does not deter the birds. They still go on to their capture and death. The next verse requires this sense. So men go on in their evil ways, though they know it is to their ruin [v.14])
18 And they lay wait for their own blood;
They lurk privily for their own souls.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain;
Which takes away the soul of the owners thereof. (The "owners" of a soul are like the "owners" of wings, and are caught in their own trap with their eyes open. Be sensible. Don't walk in the way of the thieves, robbers and murderers. Don't self-destruct.)
20 True wisdom cries without (the emphasis is on the publicity of her call);
She utters her voice in the broad places: (Especially about the city gates [Deut. 13:16], or open squares. Gen. 19:2,&c. Reverence of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge and wisdom. If you have the right mind set, wisdom allows you to discern good from evil. Wisdom will warn you of trouble in the streets of the world.)
21 She cries in the chief place of concourse,
In the openings of the gates:
In the city she utters her words, saying,
22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? (foolishness, the 2nd feature. The 1st was ignorance in v.7)
And the scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools (Heb. kesil = fat, and then dense, or stupid, which comes of it, showing itself in impiety) hate knowledge? (Wisdom cries out to our judges and government officials asking, "Where has common sense gone?". Wisdom continues to speak.)
23 Turn [and listen to] my reproof:
Behold, I will pour out my spirit (put for spiritual blessing) to you (so you can be an asset to your community),
I will make known my words to you." (Gods words are always guiding so that you can have peace of mind.)
24 Because I have called, and you refused (i.e. refused to hear);
I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (The Holy Spirit wants to give you wisdom. Unfortunately, there are many fools that don't have time.)
25 But you have set at nothing all my counsel,
And would none of my reproof: (Be sensible. Don't refuse wisdom and God's counsel through the Holy Spirit. Only fools despise wisdom.)
26 I (i.e. Wisdom) also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when what you fear comes; (Fear put for the calamity which produced the fear)
27 When your fear comes as a tempest,
And your calamity comes as a whirlwind;
When distress and anguish comes upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I (i.e. Wisdom) will not answer;
They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: (Wisdom will laugh at the problems that come upon the fools that have no time for wisdom's counsel. Illustration: Israel [Deut. 1:45,46]. See Also Isa. 1:15. Jer. 11:11. Ezek. 8:18. Hos. 5:6.)
29 Forasmuch they hated knowledge,
And did not choose the reverence of the LORD:
30 They would have none of my counsel:
They despised all my reproof. (You may choose to revere the Lord, or you may choose to hate Him. Which one do you think brings blessings?)
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way (journey, path, course of life),
And be filled with their own devices. (Illustrations: Israel [Num. 11:4-6. Ps. 106:13,14. Cp. Num. 11:20-23 and Ps. 106:15. See also Num. 14:44,45]. Neglect of Sabatical year [Ex. 21:2. Lev. 25:1-7. Deut. 15:1,2. Cp. 2 Chron. 36:3-21. Jer. 34:10-22]. Saul [1 Sam. 28:3. Cp. vv.7,15-20, and note 1 Chron. 10:13].)
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them (illustrations: Israel [Deut. 32:15-25. Hos. 13:6-8]; Babylon [Isa. 47:7-9]; Moab [Jer. 48:11-15]; Sodom [Ezek. 16:49]; Tyre [Ezek. 28:2,7]),
And the prosperity of fools (see v.7. a person operating void of common sense) shall destroy them. (The way of fools is the way of the world. It leads to their own destruction.)
33 But whoso hearken to me shall dwell safely (illustrations: Noah [Gen. 6:22; 7:23. Heb. 11:7]; Shadrach,&c. [Dan. 3:25. Ps. 138:7]; Daniel [Dan. 6:10,22. Ps. 119:10]; Christ's sheep [John 10:28]),
And shall be quiet from fear of evil. (You don't have to worry about getting hurt. Be sensible. Accept wisdom's instruction. That is the way to have true peace of mind knowing you have eternal life. The alternative is a one-way ticket to hell.)