6At the window of my house

I looked out through the lattice.

7I saw among the simple,

I noticed among the young men,

a youth who lacked judgment.

8He was going down the street near her corner,

walking along in the direction of her house

9at twilight, as the day was fading,

as the dark of night set in.

10Then out came a woman to meet him,

dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

11(She is loud and defiant,

her feet never stay at home;

12now in the street, now in the squares,

at every corner she lurks.)

13She took hold of him and kissed him

and with a brazen face she said:

14 "I have fellowship offerings at home;

today I fulfilled my vows.

15So I came out to meet you;

I looked for you and have found you!

16I have covered my bed

with colored linens from Egypt.

17I have perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning;

let’s enjoy ourselves with love!

19My husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey.

20He took his purse filled with money

and will not be home till full moon."

21With persuasive words she led him astray;

she seduced him with her smooth talk.

22All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer stepping into a noose

23till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life. Prov 7:6-23

A simple man believes anything,

but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. Prov 14:15

The simple inherit folly,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. Prov 14:18

Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;

rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge. Prov 19:25

When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge. Prov 21:11

The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Prov 27:12

As P. T. Barnum was fond of saying, "A sucker is born every minute." The book of Proverbs agrees! Proverbs teaches through images and metaphors like that of the simple young man. The tale of his seduction serves as a concrete example of the way in which folly can capture a simple-minded person. From Solomon’s point of view, every one of us was born "simple"—that is, gullible, credulous, naive. But while Barnum saw human gullibility as an opportunity for profit, the proverbs see the condition as a character weakness to be corrected. All around us people appeal to our gullibility in one area or another. If we’re to escape with our money, health and integrity intact, we need to develop what the proverbs call prudence.

The first practical step to wisdom is to identify the simpleton in ourselves. The proverbs in this study are a mirror which lets us see where and how we are naive. And more than that, they will set us on the road to wisdom.

1. All of us would agree that young children are naive or simple in all areas of life. But all of us remain naive or simple in some areas. Why does this happen?

2. Read the proverbs above. Proverbs 7:6-23 gives us the first full-blown portrait of the simpleton. What does the seductress say that is probably true?

What does she say (or imply) that is actually false?

3. Men and women "without judgment" can be persuaded to do foolish things other than adultery. From your own recollections, describe a case of persuasion which follows the same pattern as Proverbs 7.

4. How are the individual proverbs about the simpleton exemplified in the young man in Proverbs 7?

5. All of us have spheres of living where we, like the simpleton in Proverbs 7, have little choice but to believe what we are told. What are some of these areas in your life?

6. The crown in Proverbs 14:18 is probably a reward or prize such as a winning athlete receives. What is the essential difference between receiving something by "being crowned" and receiving something through "inheriting" it?

7. What is the point of saying that the fool inherits folly?

8. From your own post-adolescent experience, describe one example of each line in Proverbs 19:25. (Note: "Flogging a mocker" can encompass more than mere corporal punishment.)

9. Consider a practical project we all face from time to time—buying a car. What "dangers" (Prov 27:12) might you face as you proceed?

What should you do to "take refuge" from them without abandoning the project?

What consequences might you suffer if you don’t take precautions?

10. It’s one thing to know we’re naive in this or that respect, and quite another to develop the character strength called prudence. What can you begin doing now that will make you more prudent in the future?