Proverbs:1

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* The proverbs of Solomon the son of David , king of Israel ; (note :)The Argument - The wonderful love of God toward his Church is declared in this book : for as much as the sum and effect of the whole Scriptures is here set forth in these brief sentences , which partly contain doctrine , and partly manners , and also exhortations to both : of which the first nine Chapters are as a preface full of grave sentences and deep mysteries , to assure the hearts of men to the diligent reading of the parables that follow : which are left as a precious jewel to the Church , of those three thousand parables mentioned in ( 1Ki_4:32 ) and were gathered and committed to writing by Solomon 's servants and incited by him .(:note ) * To know wisdom (note :)That is , what we ought to know and follow , and what we ought to refuse .(:note ) and instruction ; to perceive the words Meaning , the word of God in which is the only true knowledge . of understanding ; * To receive the (note :)To learn to submit ourselves to the correction of those who are wise .(:note ) instruction of wisdom , By living justly and rendering to every man that which belongs to him . justice , and judgment , and equity ; * To give subtilty to the (note :)To such as have no discretion to rule themselves .(:note ) simple , to the young man knowledge and discretion . * A wise [man ] will hear , and will increase learning ; and a man of (note :)As he shows that these parables containing the effect of religion concerning manners and doctrine , belong to the simple people : so he declares that the same is also necessary for them who are wise and learned .(:note ) understanding shall attain unto wise counsels : * To vnderstand a parable , &amp ; the interpretation , the wordes of ye wise , and their darke sayings . * The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge : but fooles despise wisedome and instruction . * My son , hear the instruction of thy (note :)He speaks this in the Name of God , who is the universal Father of all creatures , or in the name of the pastor of the Church , who is as a father .(:note ) father , and forsake not the law of thy That is , of the Church , in which the faithful are begotten by the incorruptible seed of God 's word . mother : * For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head , and as chaines for thy necke . * My son , (note :)That is , the wicked who do not have the fear of God .(:note ) if sinners entice thee , consent thou not . * If they say , Come with us , let us lay wait for (note :)He speaks not only of the shedding of blood with hand , but of all crafty practises which tend to the detriment of our neighbour .(:note ) blood , let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause : * Let us swallow them up alive as the (note :)As the grave is never satisfied , so the malice of the wicked and their cruelty has no end .(:note ) grave ; and whole , as those that go down into the pit : * We shall finde all precious riches , and fill our houses with spoyle : * Cast in thy lot among us ; let us all have one (note :)He shows how the wicked are allured to join together , because they have everyone part of the spoil of the innocent .(:note ) purse : * My son , walk not thou in the way with them ; refrain thy foot from their (note :)That is , have nothing at all to do with them .(:note ) path : * For their feete runne to euill , &amp ; make haste to shed blood . * Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing : * And they lay wait for their [own ] blood ; they lurk privily for (note :)He shows that there is no reason to move these wicked to spoil the innocent , aside from their malice and cruelty .(:note ) their [own ] lives . * So [are ] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain ; [which ] taketh away (note :)By which he concludes that the covetous man is a murderer .(:note ) the life of the owners thereof . * * She calleth in the hye streete , among the prease in the entrings of the gates , and vttereth her wordes in the citie , saying , * How long , ye (note :)Wisdom reproves three kinds of men , the foolish or simple who err out of ignorance , the mockers who cannot stand to be taught , and the fools who are drowned in worldly lusts and hate the knowledge of godliness .(:note ) simple ones , will ye love simplicity ? and the scorners delight in their scorning , and fools hate knowledge ? * (Turne you at my correction : loe , I will powre out my mind vnto you , and make you vnderstand my wordes ) * Because I haue called , &amp ; ye refused : I haue stretched out mine hand , &amp ; none woulde regarde . * But ye haue despised all my counsell , and would none of my correction . * I also will (note :)This is spoken according to our capacity signifying that the wicked , who mock and jest at God 's word , will have the just reward of their mocking .(:note ) laugh at your calamity ; I will mock when your fear cometh ; * When (note :)That is , your destruction , which you feared .(:note ) your fear cometh as desolation , and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind ; when distress and anguish cometh upon you . * Then shall they call upon me , but I will not answer ; they shall seek me early , but they shall not (note :)Because they sought not with an affection to God , but for ease of their own grief .(:note ) find me : * Because they hated knowledge , and did not chuse the feare of the Lord . * They would none of my counsel : they (note :)Showing that without faith and obedience , we cannot call on God correctly .(:note ) despised all my reproof . * Therefore shall they eat of the (note :)They will feel what convenience their wicked life will give them .(:note ) fruit of their own way , and be filled with their own devices . * For (note :)That is , the prosperity and sensuality in which they delight .(:note ) the turning away of the simple shall slay them , and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them . * But he that obeyeth me , shall dwell safely , and be quiet from feare of euill .

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