Proverbs 1:11

11 If they say - "Let's go out and raise some hell. Let's beat up some old man, mug some old woman.

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.


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 Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers.
10 Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them.
11 If they say - "Let's go out and raise some hell. Let's beat up some old man, mug some old woman.
12 Let's pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals.
13 We'll load up on top-quality loot. We'll haul it home by the truckload.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.