Proverbs, Section 2

Proverbs 22:17-24:34Proverbs 30-31

Proverbs & Amenemope– Give your ears, hear what is said, give your heart to

understand it. It is useful to put it in your heart, but woe to the one who neglects it. . . . It will be a peg for your tongue. See these thirty chapters, they entertain and instruct, they are at the head of all books, they give knowledge to the ignorant. . . . Fill yourself with them, put them in your heart, and be a man who can explain them, in that he explains them as a teacher. (Amen. 3:9-10, 16, 27:6-15)

– Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you? (Prov. 22:17-21)

Selected Sayings• 22:22-23—Warning against oppressing

the poor.– Guard yourself against robbing the wretched and

driving away a weak man. Do not stretch out your hand against an old man, and do not speak first to a great man. (Amen. 4:3-6)

– Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them. (Prov. 22:22-23)

Selected Sayings• 23:10-11—Boundary stones

– Do not carry off the marker at the boundaries of the field and do not shift the measuring rod from its right place. Do not be greedy for a cubit of land, and do not disturb the boundaries of a widow. . . . If a man has appropriated something to himself on a false oath, he will be fettered by the power of the moon. (Amen. 7:12-19)

– PR 23:10-11 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you. (Prov. 23:10-11)

Selected Sayings• 23:29-35—A warning against drunkennessWho has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!

In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.

You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.

"They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

Selected Sayings• 24:11-12

–Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?Does not he who guards your life know it?Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

• What responsibilities does the wise one have?

• Are we our brother’s keeper? Yes, we are.

Sayings of Agur—30:1-33• Who is Agur?• 30:7-9—A numerical saying

PR 30:7-9 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither

poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor

and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.• What does he ask for?

– Keep me from dishonesty!– Do not make me rich or poor! Meet my needs!

• Why?– Poverty might lead him to be a thief. – Wealth might lead to pride & lack of trust in God.

Sayings of Agur—30:1-33• 30:24-28—A numerical saying

"Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in

ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces.

• We can learn from these “wise” animals:– Ants teach diligence. – The badgers teach protection through wisdom. – Locusts teach cooperation. – Lizards teach about significance.

Sayings of Lemuel—31:1-9• He is unknown outside of this text. • The sayings of King Lemuel--an oracle his mother

taught him:"O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings."It is not for kings, O Lemuel--not for kings to drink

wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget

what the law decrees, & deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more."Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up &

judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor & needy."

Excellent Wife—31:10-31• PR 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.• She supports her husband.

– PR 31:11-12 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Excellent Wife—31:10-31• She handles the (family?) finances wisely.

– PR 31:13-14 She selects wool & flax & works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

– PR 31:16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

– PR 31:18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

– PR 31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

– PR 31:27 She watches over the affairs of her household.

Excellent Wife—31:10-31• She works hard in & out of the home.

– PR 31:15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

– PR 31:17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

– PR 31:19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

Excellent Wife—31:10-31• She cares for needs.

– PR 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

– PR 31:21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

Excellent Wife—31:10-31• She speaks with wisdom.

– PR 31:25-26 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Excellent Wife—31:10-31• “Fear of the Lord” is the foundation.

– PR 31:30-31 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.