Proverbs 1:11

ESV If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

NIV If they say, "Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;

NASB If they say, 'Come with us, Let’s lie in wait for blood, Let’s ambush the innocent without cause;

CSB If they say—"Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

NLT They may say, 'Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

KJV If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

NKJV If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

What does Proverbs 1:11 mean?

Verses 11–14 represent a fictitious quote Solomon uses as an example. His suggestion sounds over the top, so much so that a reader may say, "No one would ever be attracted to these things." However, what is dangerous are the lures used in each verse. Solomon exaggerates in order to make the point clear—the proper response to these temptations should be obvious, but it is not always so easy. Recognizing them in an extreme example gives us perspective to see them in less radical scenarios.

Verse 11 is about the concept of peer pressure. This sets up the warning that enticement is often a group effort. This is the "come on, everyone is doing it" theme of our day. Countless evil things have been excused on the grounds that many people were involved. The sinner says, "Come with us," and "let us." Even though what they appear to be doing is grotesque, Solomon is making the point that the group mentality is seductive. Against one or two people, we may be able to stand firm, but when a group is egging us on, it is much harder to resist.

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Context Summary
Proverbs 1:8–19 is a warning against foolishness and the allure of sinful behavior. Solomon begins this warning by appealing to his children to honor their parents' teaching. As any parent knows, it’s often best to outline a negative behavior before stating the consequences of that behavior. The example used seems extreme, but it is meant to point towards an obvious conclusion.

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Chapter Summary
Proverbs Chapter 1 provides a clear description of the purpose of the book. It is stated plainly who wrote the book, the lineage of Solomon, and to whom he was writing. Solomon gives four distinct purpose statements in the opening verses. The essence of these is to explain why he is writing the book as well as the source of his inspiration. Solomon concludes with a warning against sinfulness and a personal plea for his children to act wisely.

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