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Proverbs
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Proverbs Cc Do you remember what King Solomon chose when he was asked in a dream what he desired most in the world? He wanted “an understanding mind.” God granted him his wish. And Jewish tradition, because of his reputation for great wisdom, considered King Solomon the author of the Book of Proverbs, which is a book of wisdom and a collection of the sayings of the wise. In this book itself, however, we find that others—Agur, King Lemuel, the men of Hezekiah—also wrote and collected many wise sayings. Indeed, there have always been sages in Israel, and the Jewish people has always highly esteemed wisdom. The Book of Proverbs answers some of the most difficult and important questions: How shall a person practice religion in daily activities at home, at school, in the marketplace? How shall we fulfill our duties toward children, parents, and neighbors? How shall we overcome the temptations found in everyday life? The sages of Israel believed that wisdom came from God, to help people choose between right and wrong conduct. Through the choice of right conduct, they could attain a happy and prosperous life. These sages cast their ideals and principles of conduct in the crisp form of proverbs that sometimes grew into delightful little essays. A proverb is a convenient package of wisdom, neatly tied up in attractive language, telling much in a few words. “A stitch in time saves nine” is a well-known English proverb. It would take many sentences to explain its rich, practical wisdom. The Book of Proverbs is crammed full of instructive sayings written by the sages of Israel over many centuries of time. These sages were keen observers of life. In their proverbs they used humor and kindly criticism. They liked to contrast the wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor, the lazy and the diligent. They condemned pride, anger, envy, hatred, selfishness, and greed. They praised ■ 415 ■ trust in God, obedience to parents, the curbing of one’s tongue, charity, honesty, and good character. To these teachers in Israel, the opposite of Wisdom was Folly. Folly was bad because it led people to ungodliness, unhappiness, even to death. Wisdom, on the other hand, was good because it helped people to be better children and parents, kindly neighbors and friends, responsible citizens of the community, lovers of knowledge, and persons of thoughtfulness and understanding. The proverbs found here are but a handful out of many hundreds. These have been arranged about large ideas such as love of wisdom, duties we owe to our families and to those we live with in daily life, and attitudes that a good citizen ought to live by. But in the Book of Proverbs itself, the proverbs are not arranged in this way. There, they are like heaps of glittering jewels in the treasure chest, each one sparkling with its own beautiful light. 416 ■ Pathways Through the Bible [35.175.201.245] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 09:23 GMT) 1. INVITATION TO WISDOM Wisdom is pictured as a gracious lady, pleading to all to come to her for help, guidance, and understanding. Wisdom was the very first of God’s creations and she was present at the creation of the world and of humankind. Wisdom can help us to get happiness and peace and contentment of mind. THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON SON OF DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL: The Foundation of Wisdom The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and discipline. (1.1, 1.7) Wisdom Pleads with Us It is Wisdom calling, Understanding raising her voice. She takes her stand at the topmost heights, By the wayside, at the crossroads, Near the gates at the city entrance; At the entryways, she shouts, “O men, I call to you; My cry is to all humankind. O simple ones, learn shrewdness; O dullards, instruct your minds. Listen, for I speak noble things; Uprightness comes from my lips; Accept my discipline rather than silver, Knowledge rather than choice gold. (8.1–6, 10) Wisdom at Creation “God created me at the beginning of the course As the first of the works of old. In the distant past I was fashioned, At the beginning, at the origin of earth. Before the foundation of the mountains were sunk, Before the hills I was born. The Writings: Proverbs/Invitation to Wisdom ■ 417 God had not yet made earth and fields, Or the world’s first clumps of clay. I...