8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”— 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
Commentary
Vs. 8-9 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
Though the address here seems directed towards youth, it should be noted that all of these insights into life, people, and how God always works righteousness and justice, and thus wants the same from us, are applicable at any stage of our lives. And so, to encourage us all, whether young or old to listen and receive Godly instruction, Solomon in writing these proverbs addresses us as a father would address his own son, encouraging us to receive God’s Word as we would receive the wise counsel of Godly parents so that we can avoid the many pitfalls of youth and life. Thus, we are to hear the instruction of a father, of a man like Solomon who by God’s grace and Spirit was given opportunity to do and pursue all that is in this life, so as to write and declare what he learned by doing so (i.e., Book of Ecclesiastes). Hearing then the instruction of a father, (and God in heaven is our Father, and He by His servant King Solomon has given us His Word), and not forsaking the law of one’s mother, that is of a Godly mother who knows and herself keeps the Word of God is how one is adorned with all of wisdoms riches and treasures, here portrayed as a graceful ornament on one’s head and chains around one’s neck. In essence when one does they will not only have peace and prosperity in this life, they will be honored by God in this life and in eternity.
Vs. 10 “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.”
There is no doubt that it is in one’s youth, when one is most influenced by one’s peers, and that many of life’s temptations first come and or are realized then. And so, in verses 10-19 we are given a graphic look at both a process and an outcome that happens when one yields to and follows those who are themselves doing and pursuing a sinful course of life that ultimately leads to their own destruction. Therefore, the emphasis here is do not to consent to them, or go with them, with anyone doing and pursing a sinful lifestyle, when they invite you to partake of any of those things with them. Because their so called “friendship” is deceitful, and they will not be there for you when you too are caught in the cords of your sin and are ruined by them.
Vs. 11-14 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”—
Therefore, “if they say…” that is whatever they say to you, do not believe them, or go with them, because both their words and their "promises" are deceitful. Here then is a scene of some local thugs and robbers enticing some vulnerable youth to join with them in taking another person’s life. To join them in their exploits, which they promise will bring them not only comradery with all kinds of thrills and excitement, but also an abundance of wealth for them all. And so, for a misguided youth whose mind is filled with the images of popular cultural icons which constantly promote endless fame, fortune, and pleasure, this for them this may seem like the fast tract to attaining to those deceiving and deceitful lifestyles.
Vs. 15-19 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
Having then giving an example of an enticement laid before our impressionable youth. Here we have the correction, the reality check to their inducements to sin. The call from a loving father to his son not to walk in their evil ways, but to keep oneself from their paths, “For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.” Vs. 16 Therefore they are only living violent lives, and many of them will only end their own lives violently, or waste and ruin their own lives, with many years of their lives only spent incarcerated for their crimes. Thus, the metaphor, “Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird” vs. 17 That is if a simple dumb bird can see the trap laid before them and avoid it, so how much more should you avoid the pitfalls of running or associating with evil and wicked men. For as the Proverb says in all of their lying in wait for others, they are only lying in wait for their own blood, and lurking secretly for their own lives (vs. 18). For in all of their evil scheming and plotting they are only plotting their own end, and orchestrating their own destruction and ruin. “So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.” Vs. 19
This is a profound insight, not only into their end, but also everyone’s who is greedy for gain, it truly takes away the life of its owners. For the person whose heart is greedily set on gaining riches for themselves will soon find themselves doing all kinds of questionable things, maybe small at first, but soon their greed magnifies itself, as one cannot serve two masters, God and money, for one will either hate one and love the other, or one will be loyal to one and despise the other (Matt. 6:24). And so soon their hearts, their lives, their souls (think Judas Iscariot) are corrupted and consumed by their all driving desires to get more, regardless of whom it hurts or wrongs. Even the one who overworks to be rich, often only loses their life, their family, their friends, in their greedy pursuits for more. And so there are many applications for that one verse and hopefully we will all take it to heart.
Scripture Quotations
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