Proverbs Chapter 1 of 31 about 2 min read

Proverbs 1

What happens in this chapter

Proverbs 1 is the opening chapter of the twentieth book of the Bible. The 33-verse chapter introduces the whole collection by stating its purpose and beginning the long opening section in which a father instructs his son to seek wisdom.

The chapter opens with the title: "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel." The next several verses state the purpose of the book. The proverbs are for gaining wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight, for receiving correction in righteousness, justice, and equity. They will give prudence to the simple and knowledge to the young. They are for the wise to grow wiser as well.

Verse 7 contains the book's most quoted line: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." This sentence becomes the lens through which everything that follows is read.

The rest of the chapter is the father's first speech to his son. He warns against joining bad company. If sinners say "come with us, we will ambush the innocent, we will get rich together," the son is not to walk with them; their feet rush into evil and their own ambush will trap them.

The chapter closes with wisdom personified as a woman calling out in the streets, in the markets, at the city gates. She rebukes those who have ignored her and warns that when disaster strikes, those who refused her will call but she will not answer. Those who listen to her, by contrast, will live in safety.

Verse 1. These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,

Verse 2. for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,

Verse 3. and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.

Verse 4. To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

Verse 5. let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

Verse 6. by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Verse 7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Verse 8. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

Verse 9. For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

Verse 10. My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

Verse 11. If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

Verse 12. let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

Verse 13. We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

Verse 14. Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—

Verse 15. my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.

Verse 16. For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

Verse 17. How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!

Verse 18. But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.

Verse 19. Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

Verse 20. Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

Verse 21. in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:

Verse 22. “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

Verse 23. If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.

Verse 24. Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,

Verse 25. because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

Verse 26. in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,

Verse 27. when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.

Verse 28. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

Verse 29. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.

Verse 30. They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

Verse 31. So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Verse 32. For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Verse 33. But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

Last updated: May 15, 2026