20 Wisdom crieth without; she raiseth her voice in the broadways; 21 she calleth in the chief [place] of concourse, in the entry of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words: 22 How long, simple ones, will ye love simpleness, and scorners take pleasure in their scorning, and the foolish hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour forth my spirit unto you, I will make known to you my words. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one regarded; 25 and ye have rejected all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh in your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 when your fear cometh as sudden destruction, and your calamity cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you: 28 —then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me early, and shall not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah; 30 they would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof: 31 therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall cause them to perish. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be at rest from fear of evil.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 1:20-33
Commentary on Proverbs 1:20-33
(Read Proverbs 1:20-33)
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, I will pour out my Spirit unto you. Special grace is needful to sincere conversion. But that grace shall never be denied to any who seek it. The love of Christ, and the promises mingled with his reproofs, surely should have the attention of every one. It may well be asked, how long men mean to proceed in such a perilous path, when the uncertainty of life and the consequences of dying without Christ are considered? Now sinners live at ease, and set sorrow at defiance; but their calamity will come. Now God is ready to hear their prayers; but then they shall cry in vain. Are we yet despisers of wisdom? Let us hearken diligently, and obey the Lord Jesus, that we may enjoy peace of conscience and confidence in God; be free from evil, in life, in death, and for ever.