1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
'The fear of the Lord', (7) says Bridges, 'is that affectionate reverence, by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father's law'. Kidner points out that 'beginning' (which the AV margin translates 'the principal part') means 'the first and controlling principle, rather than a stage which one leaves behind' and that this 'is not merely a right method of thought but a right relation: a worshipping submission to the God of the covenant'. What this means in practical terms is that the true life consists in a bringing of every consideration to the feet of God for His blessing and guidance, with His will the over-riding consideration in everything. A man who takes this attitude is not likely to remain long in the dark as to what the divine will is, for it stands to reason that he will soon know what to do and when to do it. What is implied in 7b is that fools de- spise the only means whereby this knowledge is gained, i.e., the wisdom and training of 2-6, and the discipline that brings this about and makes it possible. No one who brushes aside the kind of discipline that these verses speak of is likely to arrive at the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise it because they want an easier way: they are not enamoured with the idea of the hard work that is involved in developing shrewdness and balance in their lives. The whole concept of discipline is alien to their thinking.