Day 185. Proverbs 11-13

These proverbs are not presented any particular order—none that I can detect anyway. Some are tied closely to their time and ethos. Others are universal in their application and prove again how changeless human nature really is. In Bible times wisdom literature was part of the course of study required of aspiring professionals and servants at royal court. It teaches rising young men the importance of personal integrity and honest dealing in business. For instance --"a false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is his delight" (11:1)—speaks to the use of false weights in measuring commodities in the marketplace, which was a recurring problem in Biblical times. The prophets often excoriated merchants for using weighted balances to cheat the poor. Here is it made the clear the LORD not only condemns sharp business practices, but loves and rewards honest dealing. Other proverbs sound a bit like the kind of advice handed out
at assertiveness training—"The timid become destitute. Bu the aggressive gain riches" (11:16). If you want to rise you can't be shy.
Since they are often given as advice to young men, many proverbs deal with the choosing of wives who will be an asset to their careers—"A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones" (12:4), for instance. And since prudence and discretion will always be valuable to a young man in business and to bureaucrats in the royal court, it is important to know how to keep your mouth shut for your own good. "One who is clever conceals knowledge, but the mind of the fool broadcasts folly" (12:23), the wise king Solomon tells his students. And it is wiser to listen to others than to use your own initiative in many situations-- "Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice" (15).
Very few of these proverbs, as you have probably noticed, are explicitly "sacred" in nature—there is little mention of God, and it is often perfunctory. But some few of them speak very directly to the connection between how we treat other people and our relationship to God—"Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him" (14:31), the wise king says. And many of his sayings recommend generosity as a way of life and condemn stinginess—A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water" (11:25). And many his proverbs commend the justice that is built into the universe—"If the righteous are repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner" (11:31), he says.
Many of these ancient proverbs are remarkably humane and enlightened for their time. For instance, kindness to animals is commended—"The righteous know the needs of their animals, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel" (12:12). And since they are designed for an educative purpose, it is not surprising that many deal with the raising of children and reflect an old-fashioned notion of the importance of physical discipline therein—"Those who spare the rod hate their children" (13:24). (My father frequently quoted this one, being a strong advocate of what he referred to as "getting kids' attention.) But some of the reflections offered here fall under the "it would nice to think so" category—"A wise child loves discipline" (13:1), for instance.
Yet some of these proverbs are so dazzlingly true we cannot keep ourselves from nodding in agreement when we read them. "Those who trouble their households will inherit the wind" (11:29) is a good example. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (13:12) is another. Better still is this—"Some pretend to be rich to be rich, yet have nothing; others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth" (13:7).
Some of these proverbs are poignant—"Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief" (14:13), the wise king says. And some of them are just plain funny—"Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without sense" (11:22). I hope you aren't tired of these proverbs yet? There are a lot more—and I for one think they are just great.