An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 552 words)
20:001:001 he proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
20:001:002 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of
understanding;
20:001:003 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment,
and equity;
20:001:004 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and
discretion.
20:001:005 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of
understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
20:001:006 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of
the wise, and their dark sayings.
20:001:007 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools
despise wisdom and instruction.
20:001:008 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not
the law of thy mother:
20:001:009 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and
chains about thy neck.
20:001:010 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
20:001:011 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us
lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
20:001:012 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those
that go down into the pit:
20:001:013 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses
with spoil:
20:001:014 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
20:001:015 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot
from their path:
20:001:016 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
20:001:017 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
20:001:018 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for
their own lives.
20:001:019 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which
taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
20:001:020 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
20:001:021 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of
the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
20:001:022 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the
scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
20:001:023 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto
you, I will make known my words unto you.
20:001:024 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my
hand, and no man regarded;
20:001:025 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my
reproof:
20:001:026 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear
cometh;
20:001:027 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction
cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon
you.
20:001:028 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they
shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
20:001:029 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of
the LORD:
20:001:030 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
20:001:031 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be
filled with their own devices.
20:001:032 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the
prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
20:001:033 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be
quiet from fear of evil.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Let's Analyse the Pattern
When someone offers you disproportionate rewards for minimal risk, they're usually transferring their risk and consequences to you.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when someone's 'opportunity' depends on recruiting you rather than creating real value.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone promises you something valuable but seems more interested in your immediate participation than your long-term success.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
Context: Warning his son about peer pressure and criminal temptation
This is the core message of the chapter - you have a choice when bad influences try to recruit you. Solomon acknowledges that temptation will come, but emphasizes that you don't have to give in.
In Today's Words:
Kid, when the wrong crowd tries to pull you in, just say no.
"Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse."
Context: How the criminals try to recruit the young man
This shows exactly how bad influences operate - they promise instant belonging, shared profits, and easy money. They make crime sound like a business partnership with built-in friendship.
In Today's Words:
Come join our crew - we'll split everything equally and you'll be part of the family.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Context: Establishing the foundation for all the advice that follows
Solomon argues that real wisdom starts with respecting something bigger than yourself and your immediate wants. Fools think they already know everything and don't need guidance.
In Today's Words:
Smart people know they don't know everything, but idiots think they've got it all figured out.
"Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded."
Context: Wisdom explaining her frustration with people who ignore good advice
This captures the tragedy of people who had chances to make better choices but kept ignoring the warning signs. Wisdom isn't hiding - she's calling out loudly, but people choose not to listen.
In Today's Words:
I tried to warn you, I really did, but you wouldn't listen to me.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Solomon addresses how economic desperation makes people vulnerable to criminal recruitment and get-rich-quick schemes
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might notice how financial stress makes risky opportunities seem more appealing than they actually are
Identity
In This Chapter
The chapter explores how young people's need for belonging and status makes them targets for manipulation
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might recognize how your desire to fit in or prove yourself has led to poor decisions
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Solomon shows the tension between wanting quick success and building character through patient work
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to show immediate results rather than investing in long-term growth
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Wisdom is personified as someone calling out guidance that people consistently ignore until crisis hits
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might notice how you tend to learn things the hard way instead of accepting advice from experienced people
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The father-son conversation models how to have difficult conversations about peer pressure and temptation
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might recognize the challenge of giving guidance to people you care about who seem determined to make mistakes
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific tactics do the troublemakers use to recruit the young man, and why might these approaches be effective?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Solomon compare people who chase easy money to birds flying into their own traps?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see modern versions of the 'come with us, we'll split the profits' pitch in today's world?
application • medium - 4
When Wisdom calls out in the streets but people ignore her, what does this suggest about why people make poor choices even when good advice is available?
reflection • deep - 5
How can you tell the difference between a legitimate opportunity that requires effort and a scheme that's designed to benefit someone else at your expense?
application • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Real Profit Model
Think of a recent offer or opportunity that came your way - a job posting, investment pitch, business opportunity, or even a social invitation that promised big benefits. Write down what they promised you, what they asked from you, and most importantly, how they actually make money. Then trace who bears the real risk if things go wrong.
Consider:
- •Look for who profits immediately versus who profits only if the scheme succeeds long-term
- •Notice if the person making the offer has a backup plan while you're taking all the risk
- •Consider whether the opportunity requires you to recruit others to be profitable
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you almost fell for something that seemed too good to be true, or when you did fall for it. What red flags do you recognize now that you missed then?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 2: The Hunt for Wisdom
Solomon continues his father-to-son conversation, diving deeper into how wisdom actually works in daily life and why some people seem to naturally make better decisions than others.
