Chapter 1
While living in California and going to elementary school, both of my parents worked full-time driving city buses. Since my brother and I were what’s now known as “latch-key kids,” I found a lot of freedom — or so I thought. One day, my brother asked if I wanted to “cut school.” I said, “Sure.” That started a cycle that lasted for years.
During that time, I used to skip school a lot. It was thrilling in a way — doing something I wasn’t supposed to do. It was even more exciting to get away with it. I kept pushing the envelope until the day finally came when my parents found out. Let me tell you — my bottom was sore for quite a while! I wish I could say I learned my lesson then, but apparently, I was a slow learner. Every time I skipped school, I risked getting caught — and most of the time, I was.
Later in life, I paid the price for missing so much of the education I really needed to start out strong. There were multiple layers of consequences I’d come to understand only years later.
Have you ever ignored advice and later wished you had listened? Maybe a parent told you to stay away from certain friends, or a friend warned you about a bad deal. At the time, it felt like they were overreacting — until the consequences hit.
Proverbs 1 opens the book by introducing wisdom as a trusted voice. It explains why these sayings exist — not as old, dusty rules, but as time-tested guidance for making better choices, avoiding dangerous paths, and living with peace.
We live in a world overflowing with voices — influencers, friends, news, social media. Some of those voices lead to life and success, while others take us down a road we regret. Proverbs 1 helps us recognize which voices to follow and shows us how listening to wisdom can keep us safe.
In the bigger story of the Bible, wisdom isn’t just an idea — it’s a person. Jesus lived out this wisdom perfectly and still calls out to us today, offering the guidance and security our hearts truly need.
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and equity. 4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning. That the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels. 6 To understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their deep sayings.
7 The fear [respect, reverence, holiness] of God is the beginning of knowledge. But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Man
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother. 9 For they shall be a garland of grace on your head, and chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent to them. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lay and wait for blood. Let us ambush the innocent without cause. 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that go down into the pit. 13 We shall find all kinds of precious things. We shall fill our houses with spoil. 14 Cast your lot with us. We will all share one purse.” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Refrain your foot from their path. 16 For their feet run to evil, they hurry to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it. 18 And these lie wait for their own blood. They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain. It taketh away the life of the owners.
Wisdom’s Rebuke
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She raises her voice in the public places. 21 She cries in at the top of the wall at the entrance of the gates, in the city, she utters her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn at my rebuke. Behold, I will pour my spirit on you, I will make known my words to you. 24 Because I have called, and you have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man has regarded it. 25 But you disregarded all my counsel, and do not accept my rebuke. 26 I also will laugh when your calamity arrives. I will mock when your fear comes. 27 When your fear comes like a storm, and your calamity comes as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overtake you.
28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me. 29 For they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of God, 30 They would not heed my counsel. They despised all my rebukes. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. 32 For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the complacency of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me shall live securely and shall be at ease, without fear of harm.
