The Choice Between Two Paths

Avoiding the company of sinners

v. 8-9 | A call to listen and pay careful attention to the warning that is about to come forth. Hear in this case is not simply to listen but also to obey. There are repercussions if not.

Why the inclusion of both the father and the mother?

The adornments mentioned in verse 9 are to be desired by all. If we take these instructions, they will be to our benefit.

v. 10 | A summary verse used to encourage the son not to engage in those who have made sin their habit. Coming from a family dynamic, it should be clear that no one is immune, even those raised up in a good Godly home, to being persuaded away toward the company of sinners.

v. 11-14 | We find here the call of the gang of sinners. It’s helpful to see the plural here that a group can be attractive. “Let us lie in wait for blood” - there is no regard for life and violence is their friend.

There is an allure not only to do evil when the lives of innocent are concerned but also to gain wealth.

Verse 14 includes an invitation to join this crew. So why should the son avoid this crew?

v. 15-18 | Verse 15 is simply a call to avoid joining them, even to the point where your feet might be among their path. This is a common wisdom language of urging rather than a stern command. The ultimate goal with this strategy is that the youth might see the consequences and make the decision for himself.

The consequence is that these sinners make haste to do evil deeds rather than first consider the weight of what they are doing.

It seems as though the teacher is describing a situation where the sinners have cast a net in hopes of catching a bird, only to be captured themselves and fall to their own trap. They only find themselves in a destructive way of life.

v. 19 | The life of the greedy one is lost. The greedy one desires to gain and yet loses all that they had.

Respond to the call of wisdom

v. 20-21 | Wisdom is personified as a woman, which is a theme throughout the first 9 chapters. It ought to be noted that wisdom is found in all sorts of places: the street, the market, even in the busiest of streets. And what is it that wisdom says?

v. 22 | How long will you delay? Simple - those who have failed to fully develop their path. Easily influenced. Scoffers - Those who mock wisdom after already having rejected it. Fools - Those who have rejected wisdom.

v. 23-27 | The plea for the simple to follow wisdom 24 & 25 | The stance of the simple 26 & 27 | what flows from the failure to follow wisdom.

v. 28-31 | The fool, either as a second group or as the next stage if the simple fails to turn to wisdom.

v. 32-33 | This ought to be both a warning for the one who has yet to embrace wisdom as well as encouragement for those of us who have.