Religious Living / Observance
Proverbs
Proverbs
This article was written by Stephen Butterfass for Religious Living on the Web.
"THE FEAR OF THE ETERNAL IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE;
BUT THE FOOLISH DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION
PROVERBS 1:7
In addition to the literature of priest and prophet, clothed with divine authority or claiming to speak for God, the Hebrew Bible includes discourses on moral philosophy and practical ethics which are grounded in reverence for God, but are essentially secular in nature. The Book of Proverbs (called "Mishlei" in Hebrew) is one of several of these works of "wisdom" literature included in the canon.
In this work, "wisdom" (in Hebrew, "Chochmah") is the standard of righteous conduct, not prophetic revelation or law codes.This is not to imply that God has been replaced by an intellectual principle because of the absence of Divine authority.The teachings of this book are meant to be in harmony with, and to supplement, the precepts of Torah. A key concept of Proverbs is that the fear (awe or reverence) of God is the beginning of knowledge. This idea is assimilated into later rabbinical teachings (Pirkei Avot), where it is asserted that "where there is no wisdom, there is no fear of God; where there is no fear of God, there is no wisdom"!
The term "proverb" is a translation of the Hebrew word "mashal", which has many meanings and is used for a variety of situations in various books of the Bible: parable, allegory, discourse, and ethical aphorism. In Mishlei, this term refers principally to poetic forms or figures of speech, intended to be didactic, embodying central truths of life in memorable phrases. These take the form of discourses, aphorisms or sayings, and exhortations to live an ethical life.The root meaning of "mashal" apparently is "to resemble", equating one thing with another, which is interesting, because these precepts and aphorisms conform to the general design of Hebrew poetry: the use of parallel imagery, either repeating, contrasting, continuing, or comparing the thought of the first clause with what follows in the second clause or group of verses.
As literary composition, the work is a compilation of various traditions and styles, though the rabbinic tradition assigned authorship of it to King Solomon. In its general ethical tone, Proverbs represents the highest of standards: attempting to inculcate the cardinal social virtues, laying great stress on caring for the poor; industry and thrift; honesty, truth, and kindness. It goes beyond some of the earlier writings in advocating kindness to enemies, and the equality of all as creatures of God finds definite rather than implied expression here.
One of the most notable features is the personification of Wisdom as the power regulating the affairs of human life. In Chapter 8, Wisdom is described as a living power, God's associate in the creation of the world. Wisdom is a fountain of life. It can be obtained by divine grace or through right conduct. It can be taught to those capable of learning. While the morally defective and willfully perverted bring ruin on themselves, conducting oneself in the light of wisdom assures victory over evil and brings blessings to the individual and society. Proverbs contains 31 Chapters of moral and religious instruction. An attempt to provide a sampling of these teachings is the purpose of this page.
WISDOM
The fear of the Eternal is the beginning of Knowledge;
The foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Ch:1:7
If you call for insight, and lift up your voice
for understanding;
If you seek her as if for silver,
searching as for hidden treasure;
Then you shall understand the
fear of the Eternal,
And find the knowledge of God.
Ch.2:3-5
For the Eternal gives wisdom,
From God's mouth comes knowledge
and insight;
God hoards wisdom for the upright,
God is a shield to those who walk
in integrity;
Ch.2:6-7
Happy is the one who has found wisdom,
And the one who derives understanding.
For its trade is better than in silver,
And its yield than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies,
All your desires cannot compare
with her.
Ch.3:13-15
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those that
take hold of her,
And all who uphold her are happy.
Ch.3:17-18
A house is built by wisdom,
By understanding it is established;
With knowledge the chambers
are filled,
With all precious and pleasant
riches.
Ch.24:3-4
EVIL
My child, do not walk in the way
with them;
Withhold your foot from their
path;
For their feet run to evil,
And they rush to shed blood.
Ch.1:15-16
They lie in wait for their blood,
They lurk for their lives.
So are the ways of everyone
who is greedy for gain;
It takes its owners' life.
Ch:1:18-19
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Do not rejoice when your enemy
falls,
Nor gladden your heart as he stumbles;
If one who hates you is hungry,
feed him,
And if he is thirsty, give him water
to drink;
Chs. 24:17, 25:21
Do not say: 'As he did to me
I will do to him;
I will return to him according
to his deeds.'
Ch.24-29
Do not withhold good to whom
it is due,
when it is in the power of your
hand to do so.
Do not say to your neighbor: 'Go,
and come again,
And tomorrow I will give;
when you have it with you.
Ch.3:27-28
Do not plot evil against your
neighbor,
For he dwells trusting, by you.
Do not quarrel with anyone
without cause,
If they have done you no harm.
Do not envy an oppressor,
choose none of his ways.
Ch.3:29-31
The path of the righteous is like
bright sunlight,
That shines and brightens until
the noonday.
The way of the wicked is like
darkness;
They don't know what causes them
to stumble.
Ch.4:18-19
The compassionate do good to
their own soul;
The merciless afflict their
own flesh.
As righteousness is to life,
So the pursuit of evil is death.
Ch.11:17,19
Iniquity is purged by compassion
and truth;
By reverence for God,
We depart from evil.
Ch.16:6
INSTRUCTION
There are six things the
Eternal hates,
And seven which are an
abomination to God:
An arrogant look, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent
blood;
A heart that devises evil plans,
Feet that are swift in running
to evil;
A false witness that exhales
lies,
One that sows discord among
brethren.
Ch.6:16-19
Can a person take fire to his chest,
and his clothes not be burned?
Or walk upon hot coals,
without scorching his feet?
Ch.6:27-28
The memory of the righteous
is blessed;
The name of the wicked shall
rot.
Ch.10:7
Hatred arouses strife,
Love covers all transgressions.
Ch.10:12
Who is slow to anger has great
understanding;
The rash of spirit exalt
folly.
Ch.14:29
Better a little with righteousness,
Than great profits from
injustice.
Ch.16:8
Pride goes before destruction,
And arrogance before a
fall.
Ch.16:18
One's reason slows anger,
It is our glory to overlook
an offense.
Ch.19:11
A good name is to be chosen over
great riches,
Loving favor than silver
and gold.
Ch.22:1
Do not toil to become rich;
Desist, use your discernment.
Cast your eyes at it?
it is gone;
For wealth suddenly sprouts
wings,
Like an eagle that flies
toward heaven.
Ch.23:4-5
Trusting in a faithless person in
times of trouble,
Is like a broken tooth and a
foot out of joint.
Ch.25:19
See one wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a
fool than for him.
Ch.26:12
Do not boast of tomorrow;
You never know what
a day can bring.
Let another praise you,
not your own mouth;
A stranger, not your own lips.
Ch.27:1-2
POWER OF SPEECH
The mouth of the just is as
a fountain of life;
Violence covers the mouth
of the wicked.
Ch.10:11
The mouth of a hypocrite
destroys his neighbor;
Through knowledge,
the righteous are saved.
Ch.11:9
From the fruit of one's mouth
comes an abundance of good,
And the works of your hand
shall return to you.
Ch.12:14
Anxiety in one's heart
weighs it down;
A kind word gladdens it.
Ch.12:25
The wise hearted are called discerning;
And the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
Pleasant words are like a honey comb,
sweet to the soul and healing to
the bones.
Ch.16:21,24
Death and life are in the power
of the tongue;
Those that love it shall eat
its fruit.
Ch.18:21
CONCERN FOR THE NEEDY
Who oppresses the poor,
Insults the Creator;
Who is gracious to the needy,
Honors God.
Ch. 14:31
Who is gracious to the needy
lends to God,
The good deed will be returned.
Ch. 19:17
Whoever turns a deaf ear to the
cry of the poor,
shall also cry and not be
answered.
Rich and poor have met,
The Eternal made all of them.
The righteous know the justice
due the poor,
The wicked cannot grasp
that knowledge.
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