Proverbs 1 (Verses 1–7)
King James Version
The opening of the Book of Proverbs, stating its purpose: to know wisdom and instruction.
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About this text
The Book of Proverbs is traditionally credited to Solomon, though scholars generally regard it as an anthology of wisdom sayings gathered from several sources and compiled over a longer span of Israel's history. This opening passage functions as a preface, stating outright what the book is for: not entertainment, but instruction in wisdom, discipline, and discernment for anyone willing to listen.
The passage is built almost entirely out of paired near-synonyms — wisdom and instruction, justice and judgment, the wise and their dark sayings — a structure called parallelism that runs through nearly all of Hebrew poetry. Copying it slowly makes that doubling easier to hear, and the long semicolon-joined clauses in verse 5 are good practice for keeping a complex sentence under control without losing the thread.
What to watch for
- 6 semicolons: a semicolon joins two complete thoughts that belong together, a pause longer than a comma but shorter than a period.
- 2 colons: a colon points ahead to what explains or completes the first half of the sentence.
- Capital letters in the middle of a sentence: Solomon, David, Israel, LORD. Ask why each one is capitalized before typing it.
- Old-fashioned words: unto. These are easy to "correct" by accident into modern spelling, so copy them exactly as written.
- Longest word: "interpretation" (14 letters). Try spelling it aloud once before reaching it.
- 7 lines averaging about 14 words each. A comfortable line length for a single sitting.
Full text (reference)
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.