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.
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And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and 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:
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The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.
He who crushes the poor to multiply for himself, and he who gives to the rich, only to come to poverty. Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge.
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge.
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall all be fitted in your lips,
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall all be fitted in your lips, so that your trust may be in Jehovah, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
so that your trust may be in Jehovah, I have made known to you this day, even to you. Have I not written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Have I not written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make you know the sureness of the words of truth; to return the words of truth to those who send to you?
that I might make you know the sureness of the words of truth; to return the words of truth to those who send to you?
for their trouble shall rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both? These also are for the wise: To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. read more. He who says to the wicked, You are righteous; the people shall curse him and nations shall abhor him. But to those who rebuke him, it shall be a delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. He shall kiss the lips that return right words. Prepare your work outside, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house. Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, nor deceive with your lips. Do not say, I will do so to him as he has done to me; I will give to the man according to his work. I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man without understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw; I set my heart on it; I looked and I received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down; then your poverty comes stalking, and your want like a man armed with a shield.
Know well the face of your flocks; set your heart on your herds. For riches are not forever; nor the crown from generation to generation. read more. When the hay is removed, and the tender grass is seen, and mountain-plants are gathered, the lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And you shall have goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and a living for your young women.
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the prophecy: The man spoke to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal, saying,
Do not add to His Words, lest He reprove you and you be found a liar. I have asked two things from You; do not deny them before I die;
The leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give! Three things are never satisfied, yea, four things never say, Enough!
The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy which his mother taught him. What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? And what, the son of my vows? read more. Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to lust for strong drink; lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to those who are of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open your mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the sons of those passing away. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Who can find a woman of virtue? For her value is far above rubies.
Give her of the fruit of her 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
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Jehovah possessed me from the beginning of His way, before His works of old.
rejoicing in the world, His earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.
There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their own filth. read more. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaw teeth like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. The leech has two daughters, crying, Give, give! Three things are never satisfied, yea, four things never say, Enough! The grave; and the barren womb, the earth not filled with water, and the fire, have not said, Enough.
Three things are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I do not know: the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.
Under three things the earth quakes, and under four it is not able to bear up: for a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with food; read more. for a hateful woman when she is married; and a servant girl that is heir to her mistress. Four things are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer; the rock-badgers are not a mighty people, yet they make their houses in the rock; the locusts have no king, yet they go forth by bands, all of them; you can take the lizard with the hands, yet it is in king's palaces. There are three things which go well in a march, yea, four that go well in walking: a lion is mighty among beasts and does not turn away for any; one girded in the loins; and a he-goat; and a king when his army is with him.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him;
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
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The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
for their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Jehovah and depart from evil.
My son, do not despise the chastening of Jehovah; nor be weary with His correction; for whom Jehovah loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Surely He scorns the scorners; but He gives grace to the lowly.
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivers from death. read more. Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry; but He casts away the desire of the wicked. He who deals with a lazy hand becomes poor; but the hand of the hard worker makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. Blessings are on the head of the just; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. The wise in heart will receive commandments; but a babbling fool shall fall. He who walks uprightly walks surely; but he who twists his ways shall be known. He who winks the eye causes sorrow; but a babbling fool shall fall. The mouth of a righteous one is a well of life; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up fights, but love covers all sins.
Hatred stirs up fights, but love covers all sins. In the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him who is without understanding. read more. Wise ones store up knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin. The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the ruin of the poor is their poverty. The labor of the righteous tends to life; the fruit of the wicked tends to sin.
The labor of the righteous tends to life; the fruit of the wicked tends to sin. He who keeps instruction is in the way of life; but he who refuses reproof goes astray. read more. He who hides hatred with lying lips, and he who speaks a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking; but he who holds back his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many; but fools die for lack of wisdom. The blessing of Jehovah itself makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
Behold, the righteous shall be rewarded in the earth; much more the wicked and the sinner.
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
He who has knowledge uses few words; a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Who can say, I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin?
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
He who sows iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge.
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall all be fitted in your lips,
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall all be fitted in your lips, so that your trust may be in Jehovah, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
so that your trust may be in Jehovah, I have made known to you this day, even to you. Have I not written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Have I not written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make you know the sureness of the words of truth; to return the words of truth to those who send to you?
that I might make you know the sureness of the words of truth; to return the words of truth to those who send to you?
that I might make you know the sureness of the words of truth; to return the words of truth to those who send to you? Do not rob the poor, because he is poor; nor press down the afflicted in the gate;
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor; nor press down the afflicted in the gate; for Jehovah will plead their cause, and strip the soul of those who plunder them. read more. Make no friendship with an angry man; and you shall not go up with a man of fury,
These also are for the wise: To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. He who says to the wicked, You are righteous; the people shall curse him and nations shall abhor him. read more. But to those who rebuke him, it shall be a delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. He shall kiss the lips that return right words. Prepare your work outside, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house. Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, nor deceive with your lips. Do not say, I will do so to him as he has done to me; I will give to the man according to his work. I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man without understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw; I set my heart on it; I looked and I received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down; then your poverty comes stalking, and your want like a man armed with a shield.
These are also proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward you.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
Do not boast yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Each one, as he purposes in his heart, let him give; not of grief, or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And above all things have fervent love to yourselves, for love will cover a multitude of sins.
And if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
But the word of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog turning to his own vomit; and, The washed sow to wallowing in the mire.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.