What does Proverbs 1:14 mean?
What is the meaning of Proverbs 1:14?

Throw in your lot with us

Proverbs 1:14 opens with a seductive invitation: “Throw in your lot with us.” In context (Proverbs 1:10–19), violent men entice a young listener to join their band of thieves.

• The call is personal—“with us”—promising instant belonging, yet it masks danger (Proverbs 1:10).

• It urges a leap from individual responsibility to group identity, echoing Psalm 1:1, where the righteous are warned not to “walk in the counsel of the wicked.”

• The appeal downplays the cost: joining means sharing guilt and consequences (Proverbs 11:21).

• Scripture repeatedly cautions against alliances that dull discernment (1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:14).

• Behind the camaraderie lies rebellion against God’s order, much like the crowd that shouted, “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13).


let us all share one purse

The second half intensifies the lure: “let us all share one purse.”

• A pooled purse promises easy profit, but it is filled with stolen goods (Proverbs 1:13,19).

• The offer mimics true fellowship—compare Acts 4:32, where believers share honestly—yet here the sharing is founded on sin, not sacrifice.

• It hides the reality that greed enslaves (John 8:34) and leads to ruin (1 Timothy 6:9–10).

• The supposed unity is fragile; Proverbs 28:17 warns that a “man burdened by bloodguilt will be a fugitive until death.”

• Any gain is temporary; “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).


summary

Proverbs 1:14 exposes the deceptive pull of sinful companionship. “Throw in your lot with us” flatters the desire to belong, while “let us all share one purse” dangles the lure of quick, communal gain. Scripture urges rejecting such allure, choosing fellowship built on righteousness, and trusting the Lord to provide honest prosperity.

In what ways does Proverbs 1:13 warn against the pursuit of ill-gotten gains?
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