Reading for February 12th

THE WORDS OF THE WISE In 22.17-24.22: An instruction partly modeled on the thirteenth-century BCE Egyptian "instruction of Amenemope." Like its Egyptian model, it has thirty sayings (22.20) and is introduced by a preface (22.17-21); its first two admonitions (22.22-25) resemble the first two admonitions (22.22-25) resemble the first two in "Amenemope." The words of the wide offer a kind of professional ethics, warning against behavior that can destroy one's humanity and religion (2.22-23.11) and urging resistance to the temptations of youth (23.12-35). It concludes with counsels of a general nature (24.1-22). Read Proverbs 22.17-29. In 22.22-23: The poor are dangerous to attack, for God will defend them. Comments or Questions..

Reading for February 11th

Read Proverbs 22.1-16. In verse 8: Both metaphors are agricultural. In line A, bad actions are seed yeilding trouble. In line B, the rod is a flail which cannot thresh grain. Evil will be frustrated; it will bear no fruit. Comments or Questions..

Reading for February 10th

Read proverbs 21.16-31. In verse 17: Those who desire the trappings of wealth will never get them, for wealth does not come to the idle and those who love pleasure (see 6.6-11; 10.4; 12.24, 27). In verse 19: Living alone is preferable to living in a house spoiled by a spouse's anger. In verse 29: The wicked are defiant (put on a bold face) whereas the upright, who give thought to their waus, are willing to conform their actions to the teaching of others. The Hebrew text and the ancient versions trnsmit another reading in the second line.: "the upright person maintains a faithful course." Comments or Questions..

Reading for February 9th

Read Proverbs 21.1-15. In verse 14: The wise know the secret of taming anger and strong wrath-a gift of money. The strategy implies a certain disdain for anger, for a seemingly strong passion can be assuaged by a little money. Comments or Questions..

Reading for February 8th

Read Proverbs 20.1-30. In verse 15: Gold and costly stones must refer to jewelry. The most beuatiful adornment of a face is not jewelry but wise lips, that is wise words that show the beauty within. Comments or Questions..

Reading for February 7th

Read Proverbs 19.1-29. In verse 2: Desire (the internal) and movement (the external) without sufficient reflection go nowhere. In verse 13: Another saying on the household (from the male point of view). The two great causes of domestic unhappiness are foolish children and an angry wife or spouse. Wisdom can help one avoid such unhappiness. In verse 14: As if to balance the preceding verse on the angry wife, this saying asserts the greatest cause of domestic happiness is a suitable wife. Comments or Questions..

Reading for February 6th

Read Proverbs18.1-24. In verse 1: The probable meaning is that those who do not listen to others cannot grow wise, for wisdom comes through interaction with others- a process of instruction and correction. In verse 4: The deep waters of the mind are revealed by one's words (20.5). The water become a stream nourishing others. In verse 17: The first speaker in a lawsuit seems entirely right. Then the opponent cross-examines. The law court expericence teaches a vaulable lesson: there are two sides to every question. In verse 19: Ally is a family member, literally, "brother" or "member of the family." An offended family member can be ore unyeidling than a fortress. In verse 21: Love has the sense of "choose" a sin Deut 4.37; 10.15; Isa 41.8. One chooses either life or death by the words one speaks. On must eat the fruits (consequences) on one's acts. For similar vocabulary, see 30.15-20. Comments or Questions..