Proverbs 5:1-2 “The Call to Wisdom”

"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge."

These verses introduce the 8th of 10 appeals by the father to his son. (This appeal is in relation to sexuality purity.) The son is exhorted to learn from the father’s wisdom and understanding. Rather than learning through painful experience, the wise person will learn from those who are older and truly love them. The son is urged to pay close attention because what the father is about to tell him is important and will help him resist temptations common to youth. Because the father loves his son and knows what is about to be said will help him, he gives a second call for the son to pay attention and not turn a deaf ear to what follows.

Of course, the purpose of the appeal is for the son’s benefit. By listening and heeding the following warnings, the son will be able to both act wisely (“preserve discretion”) and speak wisely (“your lips may keep knowledge”).

It is common in our culture to have low expectations for young people. However, Solomon clearly expects the hearers of these words to have discretion and knowledge. As a young person, you can reject the low expectations of society, learn from those who are wise (including the Bible), and avoid the pitfalls that your peers fall into. The first step is by listening and paying attention to your parents.
Finally, the penalty for not paying attention and not heeding the words of the father is given in the last two verses of this chapter.

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 16:23; 20:15; 22:17; Mark 4:23; James 1:19

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“I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”  - Abraham Lincoln

Proverbs 19:13 “A Son, A Father, and A Wife”

“A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.”

Looking at this verse, your first thought is probably about the plight of the father who has a foolish son and a nagging wife. But remember that Proverbs was written to young people about wise living. Most likely, the young man will one day have a son and a wife. From that perspective, it is a caution for young man to be wise in choosing a wife and in how he raises his children. What qualities should a woman have – in this case, not have - before you take her as a wife? What steps as a father should you take to ensure you do not have a foolish son?

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 19:18;13:24; 22:15; 29:15-17; 18:22; 31:10-31

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“My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” -Winston Churchill