Reading Poetry & Proverbs Reading the Poetry of the Proverbs and similar Poetic Material in the Bible

Reading Poetry

& Proverb

sReading the Poetry of the

Proverbs and similar Poetic Material in the

Bible

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Segment 1

Reading Lectio DivinaReading with Four

SensesAn early way to read and study the Scriptures

Adapted to Modern Reading

Reading Lectio Divina• Early Church approach to reading• Steps

oListening to the text = LECTIO

oStudy of the text = MEDITATIO

oPraying of the text = ORATIO

o Incorporating the text =

CONTEMPLATIO

Practice Lectio = Listening

A wise child2 makes a father rejoice,3

but a foolish child4 is a grief to his mother.5

A

B

1ַׂש/,ַּמ-,ח־ָא)ב ְי ח)ָכ)ם ב-6ן

:9ו׃ ָא;ַּמ- -ַג,ת ת-ו ְיל -1ִס; ָכ -ב6ן וReading – Hear the Story!

Meditatio – Senses of the Text



A

B

1. Literal Sense 2. Spiritual Senses

1. Christological (OT)2. Virtues3. Hope

Our Focus

Oratio – Praying the Text



A

B


:9ו׃ ָא;ַּמ- -ַג,ת ת-ו ְיל -1ִס; ָכ -ב6ן וPrepared “Free” Prayer

7

HermeneuticalGap

Contemplatio - Remembrance

Divine‘dbr’ דבר

Human WordSigns ‘dbr’

דבר

Sermon

Song

Recital

Prayers

TI

ME

GAP

זָכר

Segment 2

Reading Wisdom as Part of the Story

The Genre of InstructionAll Scripture speaks of the Story of God’s Works

in Creation

Proverbs’ Outline and Argument

• 1:1-7 Promise of Wisdom

Working in Bible Program

• 1:8-9:31 Invitation to Wisdom

• 10:1-29:27 Wisdom to Ponder

• 30:1-31:31 Wisdom’s Conclusion

Genre Structure

Historical OT BooksGospel

sActs

LIT

UR

GIC

AL

GE

NR

E

WIS

DO

M G

EN

RE

PR

OP

HE

TIC

GE

NR

E

EP

IST

OL

AR

Y G

EN

RE

AP

OC

ALY

PT

IC

GE

NR

E

REMEMBRANCE - Through Recital, Liturgy, Education and Hope

Wisdom = Transition Literature

Listening to Traditionwhat has been observed as true – how proverbs originatedListening and learning (Estes)

The power of thoughts and words

The Learner and Teacher must

be willing to receive (lãqach = to take) 1:3 – 2:1 – 4:1To attend to (qãshab – pay attention) 2:2To hear (shama’ – to listen) 1:5 – 1:8 etc.

Must decideTwo women

Must embraceWisdom’s value – gold, precious ornaments – shalomHer disciplines

Make loving appeal

“My son / child” see 4:1 in particular - lovinglyPassionate invitationLength of Pro 1-9Uses arguments etc.

Warn - realismLife and death issue

Have Experience

In wisdomIn life

Segment 3

Reading the Genre ofProverbial Wisdom

Reading Between the Lines

Basics to Read Proverbs

When line A is so

Line B is even more so

A

B


:9ו׃ ָא;ַּמ- -ַג,ת ת-ו ְיל -1ִס; ָכ -ב6ן וKugel’s Rule

15

The Bi-Cola Proverb

Line A

Line B

NarrativeInterplay

Previous Proverb ???

Next Proverb ???

ENCLOSUREInclusio

Proverbs – (a)-symmetrical

Pro 10:1A A wise son makes a glad father; B but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother.

A Treasures of wickedness profit nothing;

B but righteousness delivers from death.

A Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry; B but He casts away the desire of the wicked.

Perry’s analysis of Admonition

A GOOD is GOOD + +

B BAD is BAD -- --

Z BAD is GOOD -- +

Y GOOD is BAD + --

Admonition Proverbs 10:1

A Wise child brings joy to parent + +

B Foolish child is grief to parent -- --

Z Foolish child brings joy to parent -- +

Y Wise child brings grief to parent + --

Admonition Proverbs 10:1

A Wise child brings joy to parent Samuel/Hannah

B Foolish child is grief to parent Absalom/David

Z Foolish child brings joy to parent Esau/Isaac

Y Wise child brings grief to parent Jonathan/Saul

Wisdom Literature

Prov 15:14 (Hebrew order) – When A is so – B is even more so

A The heart of the learner (+) seeks knowledge, (+)

B but the mouth of fools (-)feeds (grazes) on foolishness.(-)

Wisdom Literature - riddles

Eccl 7:1

A A good name (is preferred more +) than ointment (that is) good ?

B So the day of death + than the day of one's birth. ?

Proverbs – Multi-line 30:18-19

A Three things are hard to me, B and the fourth I am utterly ignorant of.

The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent upon a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea,

And the way of a man with a maiden

Proverbs – Multi-line 30:18-19

4 the way of a man with a maiden!

3 The way of a ship in the midst of the sea

2 The way of a serpent upon a rock

1 The way of an eagle in the air,

B and the fourth I am utterly ignorant of.

A Three things are hard to me,

CL

IMA

CT

IC

Poetic Forms in Proverbs (Williams)

Juxtaposition of imagesKnower of the righteous of life of his beastAnd compassion of wicked cruel

The righteous person (regards) the breath of his animalAnd (But) the compassion of the wicked (is) cruel

Rejecter of discipline despiser of his soulAnd hearer of reproof acquirer of mind

He who rejects discipline throws his life awayBut he who accepts criticism (correction) acquires a mind


Juxtaposition of images (11:22; 25:2)Gold ring in nose of wild pigPretty woman and lacking taste

A pig with a golden ring in his noseSo a pretty woman without discretion (ability to ‘taste’)

Glory of God to conceal wordGlory of kings to search word

God’s glory is to conceal meaning (word–thing–matter)Kings’ glory in unsealing meaning


Inter-textuality of images (18:21)Death and life in hand of tongueAnd her lovers will eat her fruit

Image of “hand of tongue”Image of ‘lovers’ -Image of tongue as a tree producing fruit to death and life -

Inter-textual possibilities• Death and life – in the tree of Good and Evil – Genesis 2• The fruit eaten which produced ‘life but also death.’ –

Genesis 3• See James 3

READING PROVERBS 10

The complexity of Proverbs 10

Righteous – 14xWicked – 13xFountain of life - 1xBlameless - 2xCrooked – 1xEvildoer – 1xPerverse tongue – 1xWise – 3xDiscerning (man) – 2xCompetent – 2xSluggard – 1xDisgraceful son – 1xHateful person – 1xLoving person – 1x

Diligent worker – 1xLazy worker – 1xTalker – 1xWho fears the Lord – 1xWho gathers in summer 1xWho sleeps in harvest 1xWho winks with eye 1xSimpleton – 4xWho governs his lips 1xFool – 3xWho covers hatred – 1xWho speaks falsely – 1xSenseless person – 1xPoor – 1x Rich – 1x

The 4 main characters in Proverbs 10

WiseMakes father glad 1Works hard-earns 4, 5Hears commandments 8Stores knowledge 13Governs lips 19

FoolGrieves his mother 1Lazy and poor 4, 5 Babbles 8Mouth of ruin 13Multitude of words 19

RighteousDelivered from death 2Blessings on his head 6Name continues 7Love – covers sin 12

WickedTreasures not profit 2Violence 6He will rot 7Hatred – fights 12

Example of ‘speech’ proverbs in ch. 10

(Pro 10:11) The mouth of a righteous one is a well of life; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.(Pro 10:18) He who hides hatred with lying lips, and he who speaks a slander, is a fool.(Pro 10:19) In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking; but he who holds back his lips is wise.(Pro 10:31) The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom; but the perverse tongue shall be cut out.(Pro 10:32) The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing; but the mouth of the wicked what is contrary.

Example of ‘speech’ proverbs in ch. 10

(Pro 10:8) The wise in heart will receive commandments; but a babbling fool shall fall.(Pro 10:10) He who winks the eye causes sorrow; but a babbling fool shall fall.(Pro 10:13) In the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him who is without understanding.(Pro 10:14) Wise ones store up knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

Cluster 1 in Pro 10

(1)A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son is the sorrow of his

mother.(2) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivers from death.(3) Jehovah will not allow the soul of the

righteous to go hungry; but He casts away the desire of the wicked.(4)He who deals with a lazy hand becomes

poor; but the hand of the hard worker makes rich.(5)He who gathers in summer is a wise son; (6)but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who

causes shame.

Cluster 1 in Pro 10





causes shame.

Cluster 1 in Pro 10





causes shame.

Cluster 1 in Pro 10

1a+ A wise son makes a glad father; 1b- but a foolish son is the sorrow of his

mother.2a- Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; 2b+ but righteousness delivers from death.3a+ Jehovah will not allow the soul of the

righteous to go hungry; 3b- but He casts away the desire of the

wicked.4a- He who deals with a lazy hand becomes

poor;4b+ but the hand of the hard worker makes

rich.5a+ He who gathers in summer is a wise

son; 5b- but he who sleeps in harvest is a son

who causes shame.

Central is the Jahweh-saying

Cluster 2 in Pro 10

6 Blessings are on the head of the just; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; but a babbling fool shall fall. 9 He who walks uprightly walks surely; but he who twists his ways shall be known. 10 He who winks the eye causes sorrow; but a babbling fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous one is a well of life; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Cluster 2 in Pro 10

6 Blessings are on the head of the just; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; but a babbling fool shall fall. 9 He who walks uprightly walks surely; but he who twists his ways shall be known. 10 He who winks the eye causes sorrow; but a babbling fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous one is a well of life; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Cluster 2 in Pro 10

6 Blessings are on the head of the just; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; but the one with foolish lips shall fall. 9 He who walks uprightly walks surely; but he who twists his ways shall be known. 10 He who winks the eye causes sorrow; but the one with foolish lips shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous one is a well of life; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Cluster 2 in Pro 10

6 Blessings are on the head of the just; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot.

8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; but the one with foolish lips shall fall.

9 He who walks uprightly walks surely; but he who twists his ways shall be known.

10 He who winks the eye causes sorrow; but the one with foolish lips shall fall.

11 The mouth of a righteous one is a well of life; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Cluster 3 in Pro 10

12 Hatred stirs up fights, but love covers all sins.

13 In the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him who is without understanding.

14 Wise ones store up knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labor of the righteous tends to life; the fruit of the wicked tends to sin.

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life; but he who refuses reproof goes astray.

18 He who hides hatred with lying lips, and he who speaks a slander, is a fool.

Clusters in Pro 10

10:19 In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking; but he who holds back his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many; but fools die for lack of wisdom. 22 The blessing of Jehovah itself makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

Clusters in Pro 1010:23 To work out evil devices is as laughter to a fool;

so wisdom is to a man of understanding. 24 What the wicked fears shall come upon him; but

the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the storm passes, so the wicked is no more; but

the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 Like vinegar to the teeth, and like smoke to the

eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27 The fear of Jehovah prolongs days; but the years of

the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous is gladness; but the

hope of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of Jehovah is strength to the upright; but

ruin is to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be moved; and the

wicked shall not live in the earth.

Clusters in Pro 10

31The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom;

but the perverse tongue shall be cut out.

32The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing;

but the mouth of the wicked what is contrary.

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Reading Poetry & Proverbs Reading the Poetry of the Proverbs and similar Poetic Material in the Bible