Proverbs: Don't be led astray

Today, we come to our first strong warning in Proverbs. Let's read.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. ¹¹ If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; ¹² let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; ¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; ¹⁴ throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"- ¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; ¹⁶ for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. ¹⁷ How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! ¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! ¹⁹ Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Proverbs 1:10-19

We've talked already about how Proverbs also warns us of things NOT to do. In this passage, Solomon is warning against people who plan on attacking, beating up, and robbing some one and having everybody split the money they get.

Discussion questions

• What is the first thing recommended? (Verse 11) Don't give in
Next, in verse 14, we're told "don't go along with them." We're even told "do not set foot on their paths" or don't go anywhere near them. Do you think that's wise advice?
• In verse 18 and 19, who are these people really hurting? themselves
• So, if your friends were asking you to do something that would hurt someone else or take someone else from them, what would you do?