Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 22

Verses 1-16

XXII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVERBS

Proverbs 10:1-22:16.

Solomon is the author of Proverbs 10:1-22:16, and the character of this section is noticeable in the change from the direct and continuous appeal of the opening chapters of the book to the short and, for the most part, disconnected maxims, each of them contained, as a rule, in a couplet, or district, formed strictly on the model of Hebrew parallelism.

The one exception to the rule of the couplet is found in Proverbs 19:7 were there is a tristich, or stanza of three lines) which is explained by assuming that the last clause of this verse properly belongs to another proverb, of which one member has fallen out of our present text. This conclusion is in some measure confirmed by the appearance in the Septuagint of two complete distichs, though it does not help toward the restoration of the original Hebrew text.

Maurer calls this section, "Golden saying not unworthy of Solomon, fitted to form and fashion the whole life." There are 376 proverbs in this collection and the parallelism is generally antithetic. A profitable study it would be to take this great section and classify each proverb in it as to the Hebrew parallelism found in it, and then paraphrase it so as to show its application to modern life, but such a plan would require more space than can be given to this discussion. An example of such paraphrase is found in W. J. Bryan’s paraphrase of Proverbs 22:3, thus: A wise man sees the danger and gets out of the way, But the fool rushes on and gets it in the neck.

I give here several proverbs selected from those made by members of the author’s class in the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as illustrations of the various kinds of parallelism found in the book of proverbs. Many of them are antithetic, like most of the proverbs found in the great section discussed so briefly in this chapter. The kind of parallelism found in each proverb is indicated by the word following it.

A wise man is as springtime to his neighbor, But the foolish are as the death of winter. Antithetic

A son that honors his father shall be honored in old age, But he that dishonors his parents shall suffer at the last. Antithetic

A wise man chooses his path, But they who Jack wisdom stumble on through life. Antithetic

In the house of the wicked strife prevails, But in the chambers of the righteous peace dwells. Antithetic

Christ is the foundation of religion, And religion is the foundation of the world. Synthetic

Heaven is a place of happiness But hell is a place of torment. Antithetic

What you were will not avail, It’s what you are that counts. Synthetic

Every proverb has encased a jewel, And wisdom is the key to unlock it. Climactic

Teachers impart knowledge, But pupils straightway forget it. Antithetic

Any fool can find fault, But the wise in heart will bridle the tongue. Antithetic

If people would be loved, They must first love others. Progressive

Love getteth to itself friends; While hatred maketh enemies. Antithetic

Duty calls ever and anon, Happy the man who heeds her call. Climactic

If you pay as you go, Your going will be good. Progressive

The bold eat the sweet morsel of victory, But the fearful are put to shame. Antithetic

The rebuke of a friend Is better than the compliment of an enemy. Progressive

As the rudder is to the ship, So is character to the life. Parabolic

A little schooling is a fooling with the looks, But true learning is a discerning of the books. Antithetic

The wicked rejoiceth in health, But calleth on the Lord in distress. Antithetic

The man who has an axe to grind Meets you with a smiling face. Progressive

Tis only noble thoughts Can make a noble man. Progressive

The wheels of time move slowly But they move surely. Climactic

The wicked purpose evil and are brought low, But the righteous purpose good and are exalted. Antithetic

The man who seeks to know the right shall find light. But he who seeks the lusts of the flesh shall find darkness. Antithetic

The going of the wicked is exceedingly crooked, But the path of the righteous is in the straight and narrow way. Antithetic

As a roaring lion in chains by the way, So is the adversary to the heavenly pilgrim. Parabolic

They who take part in others’ troubles Are apt to get into trouble, too. Progressive

QUESTIONS

1. Who is the author of Proverbs 10:1-22:16 and what is the character of this section?

2. What is exception to the rule that these Proverbs are expressed in couplets and how may this exception be explained?

3. What says Maurer of this section?

4. How many proverbs are in this section and what kind of parallelism is most common?

5. What is the suggestion by the author for a profitable study of this section?

6. Select ten of the most striking proverbs in this section and paraphrase them so as to show the application of them.

7. Now try your hand at making proverbs of every kind of Hebrew parallelism and indicate the kind of parallelism in each.

Verses 17-34

XXIII

THE PROVERBS OF THE WISE

Proverbs 22:17-24:34.

There are two collections of proverbs in this passage, as follows: (1) Proverbs 22:17-24:22; (2) Proverbs 24:23-34. The preface, or introduction, to the first collection consists of Proverbs 22:17-21.

This short paragraph is at once a conclusion and an introduction, a pause in the continuous teaching of the same Teacher, in which he sums up what has gone before, and opens the way for further instruction. In our present Hebrew text there is no break between Proverbs 22:16-17, but there is a slight break, to which however, no special importance can be attached, between Proverbs 22:21-22. The Revised Version is so printed as to indicate the commencement of a new section at Proverbs 22:17 and of a fresh paragraph at Proverbs 22:22. – Perowne.

The proverbs of this collection are contained sometimes in one, sometimes in two or three verses, sometimes they lapse into a continuous discourse, after the manner of the first nine chapters. In Proverbs 22:22-27 there are three tetrastichs. The first consists of Proverbs 22:22-23; the second, of Proverbs 22:24-25; the third, of Proverbs 22:26-27.

There is a warning relative to the poor here, one relative to an angry man, and one relative to sureties. The warning relative to the poor is not to rob the poor because Jehovah will plead their cause; the one concerning an angry man is to make no friendship with him lest he become a snare; the one concerning sureties is a positive prohibition against becoming surety at all.

There is also here a warning concerning land titles in Proverbs 22:28; Proverbs 23:10-11 and a black-reference to Deuteronomy 19:14. The ancient landmark must be kept intact. Land grabbing was not permitted even in that early day. A great law is set forth in Proverbs 22:29, thus: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men. Labor yields her rewards: "Labor conquers all things." Compare 1 Kings 10:8. Faithfulness in service is the basis of promotion.

In Proverbs 23:1-3 is a warning to watch the appetite, because the favor of the ruler, an Oriental despot, and the luxury that surrounds one under such circumstances, is a dangerous thing.

In Proverbs 23:4-5 we have another warning, viz: that the desire to become rich may not weary us since riches are very uncertain, as they may take wings and fly away like the eagle. This passage is in line with Paul’s advice to Timothy to charge the rich relative to the uncertainty of riches and what should be the attitude of the rich toward God’s cause. He says to Timothy, "Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

There is a parental admonition in Proverbs 23:13-14 relative to the chastisement of the child, commending the use of corporal punishment, meaning that this punishment will not necessarily result in death, or that he will not die as a result of his sin if thus corrected. The latter is the more preferable. There is a principle here enunciated, that life issues from obedience to law and one who has never learned the principle of obedience to the authorities, whether parent, government, or God, is not likely to yield himself to the lordship of Jesus Christ without which he can never escape hell.

There are two striking pictures in the section (Proverbs 22:15-21). The first picture is that of a father pleading with his son showing the parental interest in the boy and the happy result of a life in the fear of God. The second picture is that of a man brought to rags by gluttony and drunkenness, which reminds us of the prodigal son.

The admonition given in Proverbs 22:22 is a very solemn one and suggests the many observations of the author on filial relationships. How beautiful is the reverence for parents when they are old, and how abhorring the disrespect for them often seen in modern times! This is a very wholesome piece of advice.

The characteristics of the drunkard are pictured in Proverbs 23:29-35. Here we see him as a man of woe, a man of sorrows, a man of contention, a man of complaint, a man of wounds, a man with redness of eyes, a man with blurred vision, a man of perverse heart, a man tossed about like a vessel at sea, a man with deadened senses, and with all this, a man still drinking whenever he can get it.

In Proverbs 24:1-22 are many fine proverbs, the teachings in which cover a large range of human experience. It would be a profitable exercise to mark off the stanzas of this wonderful passage and then note the principal teachings found in it. It may be read with great interest.

The section, Proverbs 24:23-34 is a small collection of the proverbs of the wise and forms a kind of appendix to the preceding collection. There are two distinct parts of it, Proverbs 24:23-34. The most remarkable teaching found in Proverbs 24:23-29 is righteous judgment based on wisdom.

The picture in Proverbs 24:30-34 is that of a field of the slothful. There are several points of this description, viz: the owner is designated a sluggard, his field is grown up with thorns and nettles, the wall is down and the lesson of it all is the poverty and want of its owner. The last four lines constitute a striking parabolic proverb.

QUESTIONS

1. How many and what collections of proverbs are in these Proverbs 22:17-24:34?

2. What is the preface, or introduction, to the first collection, and what is its double function?

3. What are the characteristics of this section?

4. What kind of stanzas in Proverbs 22:22-27?

5. What is the warning relative to the poor here, what one relative to an angry man, and what one relative to sureties?

6. What is warning concerning land titles in Proverbs 22:28; Proverbs 23:10-11?

7. What great law is set forth in Proverbs 22:22-29?

8. What warning is given in Proverbs 23:1-3 and why this warning?

9. What warning is in Proverbs 23:4-5 and how does this teaching compare with the New Testament teaching on the same subject?

10. What parental admonition is in Proverbs 23:13-14 and how does parental chastisement deliver the child’s soul from hell?

11. What the two pictures are in the section, Proverbs 22:15-21?

12. What do you think of the admonition given in Proverbs 22:22?

13. What are the characteristics of the drunkard as pictured in Proverbs 23:29-35?

14. Mark the stanzas in Proverbs 24:1-22, select three of the best proverbs in this group and note the essential teachings in this section.

15. What can you say of the section, Proverbs 24:23-34?

16. What, to you, is the most remarkable teaching found in Proverbs 24:23-29?

17. What is the picture in Proverbs 24:30-34 and what are the last four lines of this section?