Day 189 Proverbs 23-25

The sayings found in the Book of Proverbs come from many sources and traditions. Scholars say, and you and I are in no position to dispute it, that this portion of Proverbs--22:17--23:12—closely parallels an ancient Egyptian text called "Instruction of Amenemope." These adages represent the Egyptian branch of the enormous tree of wisdom, and the compilers of the Book of Proverbs make free use of them, at the same time giving these thirty clusters of sayings—called "houses"—their own "twist." We note that in most of the sayings in this section the voice addresses the reader directly as "you"; they are intended as a little handbook to disclose to the aspiring student of wisdom "what is right and true" (22:21)--as well as practically useful.
Like all wisdom sayings these Egyptian "houses" dispense what we would call "good sense." Some of them are frankly humorous—"When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what (or who) is before you," the voice tells us, "and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite" (23:2). Be prudent and moderate—especially in the presence of "quality." It can be dangerous--or even fatal--to gorge yourself on the king's delicacies; greediness in high places can be dangerous to your health on several scores. The voice calls for moderation in everything. He gives a vivid picture of drunkenness—"it is like one who lies down in the midst of the sea" (23:34), he says—quite accurately. Too much wine causes foolishness and confusion and leaves one with no other purpose in life than to have "another drink" (23:35).
Instead of overindulging in anything, the voice recommends proportionate living—"Do not wear yourself out to get rich," he advises, "be wise enough to desist" (23:4). Don't knock yourself out in the pursuit of money—after all, "when your eyes light upon it, it is gone" (23:5). Instead he tells those who aspire to wisdom to take responsibility for themselves and for others (24:10-12). God sees and judges those who walk by on the other side of the road when they see their brother in danger. Instead the voice, in words that remind us of the teachings of Jesus, warns the searcher after wisdom not to rejoice when he sees his enemies fall (24:17) and not to seek to get revenge for wrongs suffered (24:29).
Let God take care of it, and practice detachment. Do not fret because of evildoers (24:20)—they have no future. So cultivate your own garden (24:30-34) and practice detachment in the face of the apparent injustices of life. Don't snooze your life away. (Sounds like my mother talking.) Mind your own business, "fear the LORD and the king, and do not disobey either of them" (24:21). And again, practice moderation and detachment.
The Egyptian wisdom sayings we have been reading illustrate the "ecumenical" nature of wisdom literature. It was primarily an oral tradition, passed down generation to generation, freely crossing borders and infiltrating other cultures. Then chapter 25 gives us wisdom sayings from yet another source—these are proverbs, attributed to wise King Solomon, were gathered and edited under the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, some hundred years after Solomon's death. Apparently they had circulated orally until then. They include a saying about humility that is quoted almost word for word by Jesus in the Luke 14:7-11. Jesus was apparently part of that wisdom tradition too. We see the influence of that tradition in his advice not to resort quickly to the law courts found in Matthew 5:25. The one whom St. Paul calls "the wisdom of God" passed on to his followers the teachings about moderation and detachment represented by the Book of Proverbs. We could
only wish that more of his followers would heed those teachings.