Proverbs 1:32

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. FOR THE TURNING AWAY OF THE SIMPLE SHALL SLAY THEM. The turning away from the monitions of Wisdom ("Turn ye," ) on the part of the simple. Prosperity in the parallel clause corresponds to "turning away" (from divine wisdom), as cause answers to effect. Compare , "They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear;" . "Ye are turned away from the Lord." AND THE PROSPERITY OF FOOLS SHALL DESTROY THEM - (.) When Jeshurun waxed fat, he kicked ...

20-33 Solomon, having showed how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of Satan, here declares how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God. Christ himself is Wisdom, is Wisdoms. Three sorts of persons are here called by Him: 1. Simple ones. Sinners are fond of their simple notions of good and evil, their simple prejudices against the ways of God, and flatter themselves in their wickedness. 2. Scorners. Proud, jovial people, that make a jest of every thing. Scoffers at religion, that run down every thing sacred and serious. 3. Fools. Those are the worst of fools that hate to be taught, and have a rooted dislike to serious godliness. The precept is plain; Turn you at my reproof. We do not make a right use of reproofs, if we do not turn from evil to that which is good. The promises are very encouraging. Men cannot turn by any power of their own; but God answers, Behold,...

Verse Proverbs 1:32. _FOR THE TURNING AWAY OF THE SIMPLE_] This difficult place seems to refer to such a case as we term _turning king's_ _evidence_; where an accomplice saves his own life by impeaching the rest of his gang. This is called his _turning_ or _repentance_, משובה meshubah; and he was the most likely to turn, because he was of the פתים _pethayim, seduced_ or _deceived_ persons. And this evidence was given against them when they were in their prosperity, שלוה _shalvah_, their _security_, enjoying the fruits of their depredations; and being thus in a state of fancied _security_, they were the more easily taken and brought to justice....

TURNING - Wisdom had called the simple to “turn,” and they had turned, but it was “away” from her. For “prosperity” read carelessness. Not outward prosperity, but the temper which it too often produces, the easy-going indifference to higher truths, is that which destroys....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 1:1 PART I. THE TITLE AND SUPERSCRIPTION. The superscription of the Proverbs, which extends from verse 1 to verse 6, furnishes us with an epitome in short and concise language of the general scope and bearing of the book, and points out its specific utility, both to the inexperienced and to those already wise. Thus (1) in Proverbs 1:1 it gives the name of the author to whom the proverbs are attributed; (2) in Proverbs 1:2 it declares the aim, object, or design of the collection, which is to lead to the acquirement of wisdom genera

FOR THE TURNING AWAY OF THE SIMPLE SHALL SLAY THEM,.... Or be the cause of their being slain; even their turning away from Christ, their aversion to him; their turning their backs on him, and a deaf ear to him; their turning away from his Gospel, and putting it from them, thereby judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life: in all which they showed themselves to be the "simple" and "foolish" persons they were; and for which wrath and ruin came upon them, and they were slain with the sword and famine, and by one another. Some render it, as Aben Ezra, "the rest" or "quietness of the simple" k, c. taking up their rest in themselves, and in their observance of ceremonies and traditions and crying Peace, peace, when sudden destruction was at hand: or a stubborn hardened rest in sin, a seared conscience; having no sense of guilt, nor fear of punishment; living in carnal security till death...

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS A detailed analysis, as we have made it in other books, cannot be fully made in this collection of proverbs. Most of them are detached and each has a message by itself. To interpret each separately, to point out the many spiritual lessons, as well as prophetic application, to show their relation to other portions of the Word of God and to explain them by incidents taken from the Bible, would require volumes; and even then the spiritual meaning would not be exhausted. All we can do is to hint at their meaning and give some annotations which, under God, may be helpful in the closer study of this book I. INSTRUCTIONS OF WISDOM GIVEN TO SOLOMON CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Introduction (Proverbs 1:1)_ 2. Warning against evil companions and covetousness (Pro

PROVERBS 1-9. FIRST SECTION. THE PRAISE OF WISDOM. Proverbs 1:1. Title, either of the whole book, or of this particular collection. The word for PROVERB, _mâ shâ l,_ has a wide significance _in Heb. (see BDB)._ Probably it originally expressed a comparison or allusion, drawn from history or nature, and employed to convey a taunt or satire, hence the rendering taunt-song. For different meanings _cf._ Numbers 21:27; Deuteronomy 28:37; Job 13:12; Isaiah 14:4;...

SHALL SLAY THEM. Illustrations: Israel (Deuteronomy 32:15.Hosea 13:6; Hosea 13:6); Babylon (Isaiah 47:7); Moab (Jeremiah 48:11); Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49); Tyre (Ezekiel 28:2; Ezekiel 28:7)....

_turning away_ Lit. TURNING. The word, however, is commonly used of turning away from God and from good. So here: "I called you to turn _to_me (Proverbs 1:23), and instead, you have turned _from_me." _Backsliding_(R.V.), is less suitable, as denoting a turning away from a position already taken up, whereas "the simple" are regarded as on neutral ground, and not yet having turned in one direction or the other. _prosperity_ Rather, CARELESSNESS (R.V. marg.), the fruit of prosperity. _securitas_, Maurer. Comp. Ezekiel 16:49, where the same word is rendered, _prosperous ease_, R.V....