Proverbs 1:11

11 They will say, "Come with us. Let's ambush and kill someone; let's attack some innocent people just for fun.

Proverbs 1:11 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 1:11

If they say, come with us
Leave your father's house, and the business of life in which you are; make one of us, and become a member of our society, and go along with us upon the highway;

let us lay wait for blood;
lie in ambush under some hedge or another, waiting till a rich traveller comes up and passes that way, and then rise and shed his blood in order to get his money; and the same word signifies both "blood" and "money", and wait is laid for one for the sake of the other;

let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
or "let us hide" {q}, the Vulgate Latin version adds "snares"; so Vatablus and others, as the fowler does for birds; or "let us hide ourselves" ^F18; in some private place, waiting "for the innocent", the harmless traveller, who has done no injury to any man's person or property; thinks himself safe, and is not aware of any design upon him; going about his lawful business, and having done nothing to provoke such miscreants to attempt his life or take away his property: and which they do "without cause" as to him; "freely" ^F19 as to themselves; and "with impunity" ^F20, as they promise themselves and one another; all which senses the word used will bear.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (hnpun) "abscondamus", Michaelis.
F18 "Abscondamus nos", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "abscondamus nosmetipsos", Baynus.
F19 (Mnx) "gratis", Pagninus, Montanus, Michaelis, Schultens.
F20 "Impune", Junius & Tremellius, Amama.

Proverbs 1:11 In-Context

9 Their teaching will be like flowers in your hair or a necklace around your neck.

10 My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not follow them.

11 They will say, "Come with us. Let's ambush and kill someone; let's attack some innocent people just for fun.

12 Let's swallow them alive, as death does; let's swallow them whole, as the grave does.

13 We will take all kinds of valuable things and fill our houses with stolen goods.