Reference: Proverbs, Book of
Easton
a collection of moral and philosophical maxims of a wide range of subjects presented in a poetic form. This book sets forth the "philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us that the Bible does not despise common sense and discretion. It impresses upon us in the most forcible manner the value of intelligence and prudence and of a good education. The whole strength of the Hebrew language and of the sacred authority of the book is thrown upon these homely truths. It deals, too, in that refined, discriminating, careful view of the finer shades of human character so often overlooked by theologians, but so necessary to any true estimate of human life" (Stanley's Jewish Church).
As to the origin of this book, "it is probable that Solomon gathered and recast many proverbs which sprang from human experience in preceeding ages and were floating past him on the tide of time, and that he also elaborated many new ones from the material of his own experience. Towards the close of the book, indeed, are preserved some of Solomon's own sayings that seem to have fallen from his lips in later life and been gathered by other hands' (Arnot's Laws from Heaven, etc.)
This book is usually divided into three parts: (1.) Consisting of ch. 1-9, which contain an exhibition of wisdom as the highest good.
(2.) Consisting of ch. 10-24.
(3.) Containing proverbs of Solomon "which the men of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, collected" (ch. 25-29).
These are followed by two supplements, (1) "The words of Agur" (ch. 30); and (2) "The words of king Lemuel" (ch. 31).
Solomon is said to have written three thousand proverbs, and those contained in this book may be a selection from these (1Ki 4:32). In the New Testament there are thirty-five direct quotations from this book or allusions to it.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he spake three thousand proverbs, - and it came to pass that, his songs, were a thousand and five.
Hastings
The second book among the 'Writings' is the most characteristic example of the Wisdom literature in the OT. 1. We may adopt the division of the book made by the headings in the Hebrew text as follows:
See Verses Found in Dictionary
The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise son, maketh a glad father, but, a foolish son, is the grief of his mother.
He that oppresseth the poor, to make increase for himself, giving to the rich, shall surely come to want. Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching; For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips. That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee. Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge:
Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge: To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
For, suddenly, shall arise their calamity; and, the misfortune of their years, who knoweth? These things also, concern he wise, To take note of faces in judgment, is not good. read more. He that saith to the lawless man, Righteous, thou art, peoples shall denounce him, populations shall curse him; But, to reprovers, one should be pleasant, and, upon them, should come an excellent blessing: Lips, should one kiss with one who answereth in right words. Prepare, in the open, thy work, and make ready, in the field, for thyself, Afterwards, shalt thou build thy house. Do not become a needless witness against thy neighbour, so mightest thou open too wide thy lips: Do not say - According to what he hath done to me, so, will I do to him, I will repay every one according to his work. By the field of the sluggard, I passed, and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense; And lo! there had come up all over it - thorns, there had covered the face thereof - thistles, and, the stone fence thereof, had been thrown down. So I observed it, for myself, I applied my heart, I looked - I accepted correction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest:
Note well, the appearance of thy flock, apply thy mind to thy herds; For, not age-abiding, are riches, nor is the diadem, from generation to generation: - read more. The grass, is taken away, and the young shoot, showeth itself, and the herbage of the mountains, is gathered; There are, lambs, for thy clothing, and, for the price of thy field, there are he-goats; With, enough goats-milk, for thy food - for the food of thy household, and, a maintenance, for thy maidens.
The words of Agur, son of Jakeh, even the oracle, - The utterance of the man, for Ithiel, for Ithiel and Ucal.
Do not add unto his words, lest he convict thee, and thou be found false. Two things, have I asked of thee, withhold them not from me, ere yet I die:
The vampire, hath two daughters, Give! Give! Three, there are will not be satisfied, four, have not said, Enough!
The words of Lemuel the king, - the strain which was taught him by his mother: - What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows? read more. Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink, Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed. Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul: Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed. Open thy mouth - judge righteously, - and administer justice for the poor and the needy. A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
Morish
In this book God has furnished, through the wisest of men, principles and precepts for the guidance and security of the believer in passing through the temptations to which he is exposed in an evil world. The admonitions speak in terms of affectionate warning 'as to sons:' Heb 12:5. Under symbolic terms, such as 'the evil man' and 'the strange woman,' the great forms of evil in the world, violent self-will, and corrupting folly, are laid bare in their course and end. Wisdom is shown as the alone guard against one or the other. Wisdom is presented, not as a faculty residing in man, but as an object to be diligently sought after and acquired. It is often personified, and is spoken of as lifting up her voice. In Prov. 8, under the idea of wisdom, we have doubtless Christ presented as the resource that was with God from 'the beginning of His way,' so that God could independently of man establish and bring into effect His thoughts of grace for men.
In detail the book refers to the world, showing what things are to be sought and what to be avoided, and evinces that in the government of God a man reaps according to what he sows, irrespective of the spiritual blessings of God in grace beyond and above this world. It maintains integrity in the earthly relationships of this life, which cannot be violated with impunity. The instruction rises altogether above mere human prudence and sagacity, for "the fear of the Lord is the beginning or 'principal part,' margin of knowledge." We have in it the wisdom of God for the daily path of human life.
The book divides itself into two parts: the first nine chapters give general principles, and Prov. 10 onwards are the proverbs themselves. This latter portion divides itself into three parts: Prov. 10: to Prov. 24, the proverbs of Solomon; Prov. 25 to Prov. 29, also the proverbs of Solomon, which were gathered by "the men of Hezekiah king of Judah." Prov. 30 gives the words of Agur; and Prov. 31 the words of king Lemuel.
The Proverbs is a book of poetry. The proverbs vary in style: some are antithetical couplets, one being the opposite of the other, as "a wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother." Others are synthetical, the second sentence enforcing the first, as "The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." See POETRY.
In Prov. 1 the purport of the proverbs is pointed out: it is that instruction in wisdom, justice, judgement, and equity might be received: the fear of the Lord is the starting point. Satan would of course oppose this, so warnings are at once given to avoid the enticings of sinners. Wisdom cries aloud and in the streets: her instructions are for all. Retribution is for such as refuse her call.
Prov. 2 gives the results of following in the path of wisdom, whereas the wicked will be rooted out.
Prov. 3 shows that it is the fear of God, and subjection to His word, that is the only true path in an evil world.
Prov. 4 enforces the study of wisdom: it will surely bring into blessing. Evil must be avoided and be kept at a distance. The heart, the eye, and the feet must be watched.
Prov. 5 warns a man against leaving the wife of his youth (the lawful connection) for the strange woman, which leads to utter demoralisation.
Prov. 6 enjoins one not to be surety for another. Wisdom is not slothful, violent, nor deceitful. There are seven things which are an abomination to the Lord. The strange woman is again pointed out to be avoided as fire: there is no ransom for adultery.
Prov. 7 again shows the traps laid by the strange woman, which alas, are often too successful. Her house is the way to hell (Sheol).
Prov. 8 proclaims that wisdom calls, and invites all to listen: it is valuable for all
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Yahweh, had constituted me the beginning of his way, before his works, at the commencement of that time;
Exulting in the fruitful land of his earth, Yea, my fulness of delight, was with the sons of men.
A generation! Its father, it revileth, and, its mother, it doth not bless. A generation! Pure in its own eyes, yet, from its filth, hath it not been bathed, read more. A generation! How lofty are its eyes, and its eyelashes uplifted. A generation! Swords, are its teeth, and, knives, its incisors, - to devour the humbled out of the earth, and the needy, from among men. The vampire, hath two daughters, Give! Give! Three, there are will not be satisfied, four, have not said, Enough! Hades, and barrenness, - A land not satisfied with water, and fire, that saith not, Enough!
Three, things there are, too difficult for me, yea, four, which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the heavens, the way of a serpent on the rock, - the way of a ship in the heart of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.
Under three things, a land is stirred, yea, under four, she cannot bear up: Under a servant, when he reigneth, and a base man, when he is surfeited with food; read more. Under a hateful woman, when she is married, and a handmaid when she driveth out her mistress. Four, things there are, the small of the earth, - yet, they, are wiser than the wise: The ants, a people, not strong, - yet prepare they, in summer, their food; The conies, a people of, no power, yet set they, among the crags, their house; King, is there none, to, the locusts, - yet go forth in swarms, do they all; The lizard, with hands, reneweth its hold, - yet, the same, is in the palaces of the king. Three, things there are which step along well, ye, four, which excel in going: The lion, hero among beasts, which turneth aside from the face of no one; The greyhound, or the he-goat, - and a king, having a band of soldiers with him.
Glory, in the highest, unto God! And, on earth, peace, among men of goodwill.
And ye have quite forgotten the exhortation which, indeed, with you as with sons, doth reason: - My son! be not slighting the discipline of the Lord, neither be fainting, when by him, thou art reproved;
Smith
Prov'erbs, Book of.
The title of this book in Hebrew is taken from its first word, mashal, which originally meant "a comparison." It is sometimes translated parable, sometimes proverb as here. The superscriptions which are affixed to several portions of the book, in chs.
attribute the authorship of those portions to Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. With the exception of the last two chapters, which are distinctly assigned to other author it is probable that the statement of the superscriptions is in the main correct, and that the majority of the proverbs contained in the book were uttered or collected by Solomon. Speaking roughly, the book consists of three main divisions, with two appendices:--
1. Chs. 1-9 form a connected didactic Wisdom is praised and the youth exhorted to devote himself to her. This portion is preceded by an introduction and title describing the character and general aim of the book.
2. Chs. 10-24 with the title "The Proverbs of Solomon," consist of three parts:
a collection of single proverbs and detached sentences out of the region of moral teaching and worldly prudence;
a more connected didactic poem, with an introduction,
which contains precepts of righteousness and prudence;
with the inscription "These also belong to the wise," a collection of unconnected maxims, which serve as an appendix to the preceding. Then follows the third division chs. 25-29, which, according to the superscription, professes to be collection of Solomon's proverbs, consisting of single sentences, which the men of the court of Hezekiah copied out. The first appendix, ch. 30, "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh," is a collection of partly proverbial and partly enigmatical sayings; the second, ch. 31, is divided into two parts, "The words of King Lemuel," vs. 1-6, and an alphabetical acrostic in praise of a virtuous woman, which occupies the rest of the chapter. Who was Agur and who was Jakeh, are questions which have been often asked and never satisfactorily answered. All that can be said of the first is that he was an unknown Hebrew sage, the son of an equally unknown Jakeh, and that he lived after the time of Hezekiah. Lemuel, like Agur, is unknown. It is even uncertain whether he is to be regarded as a real personage, or whether the name is merely symbolical. The Proverbs are frequently quoted or alluded to in the New Testament and the canonicity of the book thereby confirmed. The following is a list of the principal passages:--
compare Roma 3:10,15
compare Roma 12:16
compare Hebr 12:5,6, see also Reve 3:19
compare Jame 4:6
compare 1Pet 4:8
compare 1Pet 4:18
compare Roma 12:17; 1The 5:15; 1Pet 3:9
compare Jame 1:19
compare 1Joh 1:8
(LXX.), compare 2Cor 9:7
compare, Roma 12:20
compare, 2Pet 2:22
compare, Jame 4:13,14
See Verses Found in Dictionary
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel:
For, their feet, to mischief, do run, and haste to the shedding of blood.
Do not become wise in thine own eyes, revere Yahweh, and avoid evil:
The, chastening of Yahweh, my son, do not reject, nor loathe his rebuke; For, whom Yahweh loveth, he correcteth, he causeth pain to the son in whom he delighteth.
Though at scoffers he scoffeth, yet, to the humbled, he granteth favour.
The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise son, maketh a glad father, but, a foolish son, is the grief of his mother.
The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise son, maketh a glad father, but, a foolish son, is the grief of his mother. The treasures of lawlessness, do not profit, but, righteousness, delivereth from death. read more. Yahweh, suffereth not to famish, the soul of the righteous, but, the desire of the lawless, he thrusteth away. He becometh poor, who dealeth with a slack hand, but, the hand of the diligent, maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer, is a prudent son, he that sleepeth long in harvest, is a son causing shame. Blessings, are for the head of the righteous man, but, the mouth of the lawless, covereth up wrong. The memory of the righteous, yieldeth blessing, but, the name of the lawless, dieth out. The wise in heart, will accept commandments, but, he that is foolish with his lips, shall be thrust away. He that walketh uprightly, may walk securely, but, he that maketh crooked his ways, shall be found out. He that winketh with the eye, causeth sorrow, and, he that is foolish with his lips, shall be thrust aside. A well-spring of life, is the mouth of the righteous, but, the mouth of the lawless, covereth wrong. Hatred, stirreth up strifes, but, over all transgressions, love throweth a covering.
Hatred, stirreth up strifes, but, over all transgressions, love throweth a covering. In the lips of the intelligent, is found wisdom, but, a rod, is for the back of him that lacketh sense. read more. Wise men, treasure up knowledge, but, the mouth of the foolish, is a terror near at hand. The substance of the rich, is his strong city, the terror of the poor, is their poverty. The labour of the righteous, leadeth to life, the increase of the lawless, to sin.
The labour of the righteous, leadeth to life, the increase of the lawless, to sin. On the way to life, is he that heedeth correction, but, he that hateth reproof, is going astray. read more. He that concealeth hatred, hath false lips, and he that sendeth forth slander, the same, is a dullard. In the multitude of words, there wanteth not transgression, but, he that restraineth his lips, sheweth prudence. Choice silver, is the tongue of the righteous, but, the sense of the lawless, is very small. The lips of the righteous, feed multitudes, but, the foolish, for lack of sense, shall die. The blessing of Yahweh, itself maketh rich, and he addeth no grievance therewith.
Lo! the righteous, in the earth shall be recompensed, how much more the lawless and the sinner.
He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
He that soweth perversity, shall reap trouble, and, the rod of his wrath, shall be ready.
Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching; For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips. That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee. Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge:
Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge: To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee. Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate; For, Yahweh, will plead their cause, and will despoil their despoilers of life. read more. Do not have friendship with one given to anger, and, with a wrathful man, shall thou not enter in:
These things also, concern he wise, To take note of faces in judgment, is not good. He that saith to the lawless man, Righteous, thou art, peoples shall denounce him, populations shall curse him; read more. But, to reprovers, one should be pleasant, and, upon them, should come an excellent blessing: Lips, should one kiss with one who answereth in right words. Prepare, in the open, thy work, and make ready, in the field, for thyself, Afterwards, shalt thou build thy house. Do not become a needless witness against thy neighbour, so mightest thou open too wide thy lips: Do not say - According to what he hath done to me, so, will I do to him, I will repay every one according to his work. By the field of the sluggard, I passed, and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense; And lo! there had come up all over it - thorns, there had covered the face thereof - thistles, and, the stone fence thereof, had been thrown down. So I observed it, for myself, I applied my heart, I looked - I accepted correction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest:
These also, are proverbs of Solomon, - which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, - and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
Do not boast thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Each one, according as he hath purposed in his heart, not sorrowfully, nor of necessity, - for, a cheerful giver, God, loveth.
Before all things, keeping, fervent, your love, among yourselves, because, love, covereth a multitude of sins;
And, if, the righteous man, is, with difficulty, saved, where then shall, the ungodly and sinful man, appear?
There hath befallen them the thing spoken of in the true proverb - A dog, turning back unto his own vomit, and - A sow, as soon as washed, unto wallowing in mire.
If we say - Sin, have we none! we are deceiving, ourselves, and, the truth, is not in us.