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 Solomon wrote 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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Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but an indiscreet son is a heaviness unto his mother.
Whoso doth a poor man wrong, to increase his own riches, and giveth unto the rich to please him, at the last cometh to poverty himself. My son, bow down thine ear, and hearken unto the words of wisdom, apply thy mind unto my doctrine -
My son, bow down thine ear, and hearken unto the words of wisdom, apply thy mind unto my doctrine -
My son, bow down thine ear, and hearken unto the words of wisdom, apply thy mind unto my doctrine - for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep it in thine heart, and practice it in thy mouth -
for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep it in thine heart, and practice it in thy mouth - that thou mayest always put thy trust in the LORD.
that thou mayest always put thy trust in the LORD. Have not I warned thee very oft with counsel and learning?
Have not I warned thee very oft with counsel and learning? That I might show thee the truth and that thou with the verity mightest answer them that lay anything against thee?
That I might show thee the truth and that thou with the verity mightest answer them that lay anything against thee?
For their destruction shall come suddenly, and who knoweth the fall of them both? These are also the sayings of the wise. It is not good to have respect of any person in judgment. read more. He that sayeth unto the ungodly, "Thou art righteous," him shall the people curse; yea, the commonality shall abhor him. But they that rebuke the ungodly shall be commended, and a rich blessing shall come upon them. He maketh himself to be well loved, that giveth a good answer. First, make up thy work that is without, and look well unto that which thou hast in the field, and then build thine house. Be no false witness against thy neighbour, and hurt him not with thy lips. Say not, "I will handle him, even as he hath dealt with me, and will reward every man according to his deeds." I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyards of the foolish man. And lo, it was all covered with nettles, and stood full of thistles, and the stone wall was broken down. This I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and took it for a warning. Yea, sleep on still a little, slumber a little, fold thine hands together yet a little; so shall poverty come unto thee as one that travaileth by the way, and necessity like a weaponed man.
See that thou know the number of thy cattle thy self, and look well to thy flocks. For riches abide not away, and the crown endureth not forever. read more. The hay groweth, the grass cometh up, and herbs are gathered in the mountains. The lambs shall clothe thee, and for the goats thou shalt have money to thy husbandry. Thou shalt have goats' milk enough to feed thee, to uphold thy household, and to sustain thy maidens.
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh. The prophecy of a true faithful man; whom God hath helped, whom God hath comforted and nourished.
Put thou nothing therefore unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found as a liar. Two things I require of thee, that thou will not deny me before I die.
This generation which is like a horse-leech, hath two daughters; the one is called "fetch hither," and the other "bring hither."
These are the words of king Lemuel, and the Prophecy that his mother taught him. My son, thou son of my body: O my dear beloved son, read more. give not over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction even of kings. O Lemuel, give kings no wine, give kings and princes no strong drink; Lest they being drunken forget the law, and regard not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity. Give strong drink unto such as are condemned to death, and wine unto those that mourn: that they may drink it, and forget their misery and adversity. Be thou an advocate and stand in judgment thyself, to speak for all such as be dumb and sucourless. With thy mouth defend the thing that is lawful and right, and the cause of the poor and helpless. Whoso findeth a honest faithful woman, she is much more worth than pearls.
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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"The LORD himself had me in possession in the beginning of his ways, before he began his works afore time.
As for the round compass of his world, I make it joyful: for my delight is to be among the children of men.
He that bringeth up an evil report upon the generation of his father and mother, is not worthy to be commended. The generation that think themselves clean, shall not be cleansed from their filthiness. read more. There are people that have a proud look, and cast up their eyelids. This peoples' teeth are swords, and with their jawbones they consume and devour the simple of the earth, and the poor from among men. This generation which is like a horse-leech, hath two daughters; the one is called "fetch hither," and the other "bring hither." There be three things that are never satisfied, and the fourth sayeth never, "Hoo." The hell, a woman's womb, and the earth hath never water enough. As for fire, it sayeth never, "Hoo."
There be three things too high for me, and as for the fourth, it passeth my knowledge. The way of an Eagle in the air, the way of a serpent over a stone, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a young woman.
Through three things the earth is disquieted, and the fourth may it not bear: through a servant that beareth rule, through a fool that hath great riches, read more. through an idle housewife, and through a handmaiden that is heir to her mistress. There be four things in the earth, the which are very little: but in wisdom they exceed the wise. The Emmets are but a weak people, yet gather they their meat together in the harvest. The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their couches among the rocks. The grasshoppers have not a guide, yet go they forth together by heaps. The spider laboureth with her hands, and that in the kings' palace. There be three things that go stiffly, but the going of the fourth is the goodliest of all. A Lion which is king of beasts, and giveth place to no man; A cock ready to fight; A ram; and a king that goeth forth with his people.
"Glory to God on high: and peace on the earth, and unto men, rejoicing."
And ye have forgotten the consolation which speaketh unto you, as unto children, "My son despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of 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
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 are hasty to shed blood.
Be not wise in thine own conceit, but fear the LORD, and depart from evil:
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither faint when thou are rebuked of him. For whom the LORD loveth, him he chasteneth: and yet delighteth in him even as a father in his own son.
As for the scornful, he shall laugh them to scorn, but he shall give grace unto the lowly.
Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but an indiscreet son is a heaviness unto his mother.
Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but an indiscreet son is a heaviness unto his mother. Treasures that are wickedly gotten, profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death. read more. The LORD will not let the soul of the righteous suffer hunger; but he putteth the ungodly from his desire. An idle hand maketh poor; but a quick laboring hand maketh rich. Whoso gathereth in summer is wise; but he that is sluggish in harvest, bringeth himself to confusion. Loving and favorable is the face of the righteous; but the forehead of the ungodly is past shame, and presumptuous. The memorial of the just shall have a good report; but the name of the ungodly shall stink. A wise man will receive warning; but a fool will sooner be smitten in the face. He that leadeth an innocent life, walketh surely; but whoso goeth a wrong way, shall be known. He that winketh with his eye, will do some harm; but he that hath a foolish mouth shall be beaten. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life; but the mouth of the ungodly is past shame, and presumptuous. Evil will stirreth up strife; but love covereth the multitude of sins.
Evil will stirreth up strife; but love covereth the multitude of sins. In the lips of him that hath understanding a man shall find wisdom; but the rod belongeth to the back of the foolish. read more. Wise men lay up knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish is nigh destruction. The rich man's goods are his stronghold; but poverty oppresseth the poor. The righteous laboureth to do good; but the ungodly useth his increase unto sin.
The righteous laboureth to do good; but the ungodly useth his increase unto sin. To take heed unto the chastening of nurture, is the way of life; but he that refuseth to be reformed, deceiveth himself. read more. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that speaketh slander, is a fool. Where much babbling is, there must needs be offense; he that refraineth his lips is wisest of all. An innocent tongue is a noble treasure; but the heart of the ungodly is nothing worth. The lips of the righteous feed a whole multitude; but fools shall die in their own folly. The blessing of the LORD, maketh rich men; as for careful travail, it doth nothing thereto.
If the righteous be recompensed upon earth, how much more then the ungodly and the sinner?
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, the plague shall not depart from his house.
He is wise and discreet that tempereth his words; and he is a man of understanding, that maketh much of his spirit.
Who can say, "My heart is clean, I am innocent from sin"?
Whoso curseth his father and mother, his light shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
He that soweth wickedness shall reap sorrow; and the rod of his plague shall destroy him.
My son, bow down thine ear, and hearken unto the words of wisdom, apply thy mind unto my doctrine -
My son, bow down thine ear, and hearken unto the words of wisdom, apply thy mind unto my doctrine - for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep it in thine heart, and practice it in thy mouth -
for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep it in thine heart, and practice it in thy mouth - that thou mayest always put thy trust in the LORD.
that thou mayest always put thy trust in the LORD. Have not I warned thee very oft with counsel and learning?
Have not I warned thee very oft with counsel and learning? That I might show thee the truth and that thou with the verity mightest answer them that lay anything against thee?
That I might show thee the truth and that thou with the verity mightest answer them that lay anything against thee?
That I might show thee the truth and that thou with the verity mightest answer them that lay anything against thee? See that thou rob not the poor because he is weak, and oppress not the simple in judgment;
See that thou rob not the poor because he is weak, and oppress not the simple in judgment; for the LORD himself will defend their cause, and do violence unto them that have used violence. read more. Make no friendship with an angry willful man, and keep no company with the furious;
These are also the sayings of the wise. It is not good to have respect of any person in judgment. He that sayeth unto the ungodly, "Thou art righteous," him shall the people curse; yea, the commonality shall abhor him. read more. But they that rebuke the ungodly shall be commended, and a rich blessing shall come upon them. He maketh himself to be well loved, that giveth a good answer. First, make up thy work that is without, and look well unto that which thou hast in the field, and then build thine house. Be no false witness against thy neighbour, and hurt him not with thy lips. Say not, "I will handle him, even as he hath dealt with me, and will reward every man according to his deeds." I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyards of the foolish man. And lo, it was all covered with nettles, and stood full of thistles, and the stone wall was broken down. This I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and took it for a warning. Yea, sleep on still a little, slumber a little, fold thine hands together yet a little; so shall poverty come unto thee as one that travaileth by the way, and necessity like a weaponed man.
These also are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah gathered together.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; For so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Like as the dog turneth again to his vomit, even so a fool beginneth his foolishness again afresh.
Make not thy boast of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what may happen today.
And let every man do according as he hath purposed in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity. For God loveth a cheerful giver.
But above all things, have fervent love among you. For love covereth the multitude of sins.
And if the righteous scarcely be saved: where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
It is happened unto them according to the true proverb, "The dog is turned to his vomit again, and the sow that was washed, is returned to her wallowing in the mire."
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and truth is not in us.