proverbs 1 through 3

Read Proverbs 1 through 3 at Bible Gateway.

Proverbs is like Psalms; the Hebrew paragraph divisions are recorded differently than they are in the Torah or narrative history books of the Bible. Most of the time, a new verse number begins a new proverb; and there is a weak paragraph division {s} at the end of every verse. Since this is understood to be the case for the whole book of Proverbs, I will not write out every {s} here; but mark an {s} at the end of every verse in the Bible.

The exception is: some verses end with a strong paragraph division, {p} marking the end of a strong theme. This has the same effect as strong paragraph divisions elsewhere: the preceding weak paragraphs taken together speak to a single overarching strong theme. Some verses also have an extra weak division inside a proverb, inside a numbered verse. As with Psalms, I mark these with {n} meaning, a here begins a new line (a new weak paragraph division). I will list the {p} and {n} divisions here.

Pro 1:1-7 {p} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
Pro 1:8-33 {p} Hear wisdom, do not forsake Law for lawlessness

Pro 1:11a If they say, “Come with us, {n}
Pro 1:11b Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
Pro 1:22a “How long, you thoughtless ones, will you love thoughtlessness? {n}
Pro 1:22b For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
Pro 1:27a When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, {n}
Pro 1:27b When distress and anguish come upon you.

Pro 2:1-22 {p} Receive + treasure commands to find wisdom, knowledge, understanding/uprightness preserves life
Pro 3:1-18 {p} The excellency of wisdom: her proceeds are life, peace, health, prosperity
Pro 3:19-35 {p} Keep wisdom + uprightness before the eyes + path/ end of wise/righteous + foolish/wicked

Proverbs 1 chiastic structures:

Pro 1:1-7 {p}

introduction) Pro 1:1, The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

1a) Pro 1:2a, To know wisdom and instruction;

1b) Pro 1:2b, To perceive the words of understanding;

1c) Pro 1:3, To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;

central axis) Pro 1:4, To give prudence to the simple/ to the young man knowledge + discretion;

2c) Pro 1:5, A wise man will hear + increase learning/ a man of understanding attain wise counsel;

2b) Pro 1:6, To understand a proverb and an enigma/ the words of the wise + their riddles;

2a) Pro 1:7 {p} The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom + instruction.

Pro 1:8-33 {p}

1a) Pro 1:8a, My son, hear the instruction of your father;

1b) Pro 1:8b, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

central axis) Pro 1:9, For they will be a graceful ornament on your head/ chains about your neck;

2b) Pro 1:10-19, To be enticed by sin is to forsake Law – don’t consent to it;

1.1) Pro 1:10, My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent;
1.2) Pro 1:11a {n} If they say, “Come with us;”
1.3) Pro 1:11b-14, “Let us lie in wait to shed blood; we shall fill our houses with spoil;”
2.1) Pro 1:15a, My son, do not walk in the way with them;
2.2) Pro 1:15b, Keep your foot from their path;
2.3) Pro 1:16-18, Their feet run to shed blood, but they do not know they lie in wait for their own blood;
conclusion) Pro 1:19, Everyone who is greedy for [unlawful] gain: it will take away their life.

2a) Pro 1:20-33 {p} Hear Wisdom;

1a) Pro 1:20-21, Wisdom calls aloud + makes her voice heard openly;
1b) Pro 1:22a {n} “How long, you thoughtless ones, will you love thoughtlessness?”
1c) Pro 1:22b, Scorners delight in their scorning/ fools hate knowledge;
1d) Pro 1:23a, Turn at my rebuke;
central axis) Pro 1:23b, Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you;
2d) Pro 1:24-25, Because I called and you refused + did not regard + disdained my counsel + rebuke;
2c) Pro 1:26, I also will laugh + mock at your calamity + terror when it comes;
2b) Pro 1:27-32, What the thoughtless love will destroy them; what they hate would preserve them;

1a) Pro 1:27a {n} When your terror comes like a storm/your destruction like a whirlwind;
1b) Pro 1:27b, When distress and anguish come upon you;
1c) Pro 1:28, They will call on me + seek me diligently, but I will not answer/ they will not find me;
central axis) Pro 1:29, Because they hated knowledge/ did not choose the fear of the Lord;
2c) Pro 1:30, They would have none of my counsel / despised my every rebuke;
2b) Pro 1:31, They shall eat the fruit of their own way/ be filled with their own devices;
2a) Pro 1:32, The turning away + complacency of the simple + fools will slay + destroy them;

2a) Pro 1:33 {p} Whoever listens to me will dwell safely + be secure, without fear of evil.

I have been meditating on this chapter and the structures, and what it means, especially for the large number of Christian believers, who have embraced the recent Supreme Court ruling concerning marriage, as just and good, something the LORD calls rather, an abomination. If a man would truly want to walk in love, they will proclaim these truths from the rooftops to warn those who are racing to the cliff edge. #lovewins