Proverbs 1:32
in Proverbs 1For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
KJV
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
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This verse in Proverbs 1
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Gregory the DialogistThe Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 26 · Written before 604.
Hence Solomon says, "The turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them." Hence Paul admonishes, saying, "They that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as though they used it not."
This site's exposition
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer
on Proverbs 1:28-33
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer” describes a door that does not stay open forever. The line “they will eat the fruit of their own way” states the chapter's logic, consequence as a harvest of their own devices.
This site's exposition
the complacency of fools will destroy them
Complacency is the ease of fools who feel secure while destruction gathers. Gregory the Dialogist sets the verse beside Paul's counsel at 1 Corinthians 7:31, to use this world as though not using it. Waywardness is the simple turning away from Wisdom's call.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
6 ), and therefore she goes on to tell them what will be in the end hereof. (1.) The crime is recited and it is highly provoking. See what it is for which judgment will be given against impenitent sinners in the great day, and you will say they deserve it, and the Lord is righteous in it.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
In vain - The fowler who spreads, his net in the sight of the bird looseth his labour. But these, are more foolish than the silly birds, and though they are not ignorant of the mischief which these evil courses will bring upon themselves, yet they will not take warning. Their own blood - The destruction which they design to others, fall upon themselves.
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,.... Or be the cause of their being slain; even their turning away from Christ, their aversion to him; their turning their backs on him, and a deaf ear to him; their turning away from his Gospel, and putting it from them, thereby judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life: in all which they showed themselves to be the "simple" and "foolish" persons they were; and for which wrath and ruin came upon them, and they were slain with the sword and famine, and by one another.
First, They are now proud that they can turn away from God and get clear of the restraints of religion; but that very thing shall slay them, the remembrance of it shall cut them to the heart.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For the turning away of the simple - This difficult place seems to refer to such a case as we term turning king’s evidence; where an accomplice saves his own life by impeaching the rest of his gang. This is called his turning or repentance, משובה meshubah; and he was the most likely to turn, because he was of the פתים pethayim, seduced or deceived persons.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Others think that wisdom, as the divine attribute specially employed in acts of counsel and admonition, is here personified, and represents God. In either case the address is a most solemn and divine admonition, whose matter and spirit are eminently evangelical and impressive (see on Pr 8:1).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Turning - Wisdom had called the simple to “turn,” and they had turned, but it was “away” from her. For “prosperity” read carelessness. Not outward prosperity, but the temper which it too often produces, the easy-going indifference to higher truths, is that which destroys.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מְשׁוּבַ֣ת | meshuvat | [the] waywardness of | H4878 → | |
| פְּתָיִ֣ם | petayim | naive people | H6612 → | 19 times |
| תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑ם | tahargem | it will ruin them | H2026 → | |
| וְשַׁלְוַ֖ת | veshalvat | and [the] ease of | H7962 → | |
| כְּסִילִ֣ים | kesilim | fools | H3684 → | 70 times |
| תְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃ | teabedem | it will destroy them | H6 → | 184 times |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
מְשׁוּבַ֣ת[the] waywardness of
meshuvatH4878 →
פְּתָיִ֣םnaive people
petayimH6612 →19 times
תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑םit will ruin them
tahargemH2026 →
וְשַׁלְוַ֖תand [the] ease of
veshalvatH7962 →
כְּסִילִ֣יםfools
kesilimH3684 →70 times
תְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃it will destroy them
teabedemH6 →184 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 3:36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
it leads to
- John 5:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
- John 1:12
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- John 3:15–16
that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
- John 5:24
Through
Proverbs 8:36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:32
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
- Proverbs 1:31
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22
If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!
- Proverbs 15:32
Where this verse is studied
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About Proverbs
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Gregory the Dialogist, The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 26; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.