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

Segment 1 Reading Lectio Divina Reading with Four Senses An early way to read and study the Scriptures Adapted to Modern Reading

Reading Lectio Divina Early Church approach to reading Steps o Listening to the text = LECTIO o Study of the text = MEDITATIO o Praying of the text = ORATIO o Incorporating the text = CONTEMPLATIO

Practice Lectio = Listening A wise child 2 makes a father rejoice, 3 but a foolish child 4 is a grief to his mother. 5 בֵּן חָכָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָב וּבֵן כְּסִיל תּוּגַת אִמֹּֽו׃

Meditatio – Senses of the Text A wise child 2 makes a father rejoice, 3 but a foolish child 4 is a grief to his mother. 5 Our Focus

Oratio – Praying the Text A wise child 2 makes a father rejoice, 3 but a foolish child 4 is a grief to his mother. 5 בֵּן חָכָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָב וּבֵן כְּסִיל תּוּגַת אִמֹּֽו׃

7 Hermeneutical Gap Contemplatio - Remembrance Divine ‘dbr’ דבר Human Word Signs ‘dbr’ דבר Sermon Song Recital Prayers TIMEGAPTIMEGAP זכר

Segment 2 Reading Wisdom as Part of the Story The Genre of Instruction All 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 BooksGospelsActs LITURGICAL GENRE WISDOM GENRE PROPHETIC GENRE EPISTOLARY GENRE APOCALYPTIC GENRE REMEMBRANCE - Through Recital, Liturgy, Education and Hope

Wisdom = Transition Literature Listening to Tradition what has been observed as true – how proverbs originated Listening 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 – 4:1 To attend to (qãshab – pay attention) 2:2 To hear (shama’ – to listen) 1:5 – 1:8 etc. Must decide Two women Must embrace Wisdom’s value – gold, precious ornaments – shalom Her disciplines Make loving appeal “My son / child” see 4:1 in particular - lovingly Passionate invitation Length of Pro 1-9 Uses arguments etc. Warn - realism Life and death issue Have Experience In wisdom In life

Segment 3 Reading the Genre of Proverbial Wisdom Reading Between the Lines

Basics to Read Proverbs When line A is so Line B is even more so בֵּן חָכָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָב וּבֵן כְּסִיל תּוּגַת אִמֹּֽו׃

15 The Bi-Cola Proverb Line A Line B Narrative Interplay Previous Proverb ??? Next Proverb ??? ENCLOSURE Inclusio

Proverbs – (a)-symmetrical Pro 10:1 A 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 fool s (-) 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: 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, CLIMACTICCLIMACTIC

Poetic Forms in Proverbs (Williams) Juxtaposition of images Knower of the righteous of life of his beast And compassion of wicked cruel The righteous person (regards) the breath of his animal And (But) the compassion of the wicked (is) cruel Rejecter of discipline despiser of his soul And hearer of reproof acquirer of mind He who rejects discipline throws his life away But he who accepts criticism (correction) acquires a mind

Poetic Forms in Proverbs (Williams) Juxtaposition of images (11:22; 25:2) Gold ring in nose of wild pig Pretty woman and lacking taste A pig with a golden ring in his nose So a pretty woman without discretion (ability to ‘taste’) Glory of God to conceal word Glory of kings to search word God’s glory is to conceal meaning (word–thing–matter) Kings’ glory in unsealing meaning

Poetic Forms in Proverbs (Williams) Inter-textuality of images (18:21) Death and life in hand of tongue And 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 – 14x Wicked – 13x Fountain of life - 1x Blameless - 2x Crooked – 1x Evildoer – 1x Perverse tongue – 1x Wise – 3x Discerning (man) – 2x Competent – 2x Sluggard – 1x Disgraceful son – 1x Hateful person – 1x Loving person – 1x Diligent worker – 1x Lazy worker – 1x Talker – 1x Who fears the Lord – 1x Who gathers in summer 1x Who sleeps in harvest 1x Who winks with eye 1x Simpleton – 4x Who governs his lips 1x Fool – 3x Who covers hatred – 1x Who speaks falsely – 1x Senseless person – 1x Poor – 1x Rich – 1x

The 4 main characters in Proverbs 10 Wise Makes father glad 1 Works hard-earns 4, 5 Hears commandments 8 Stores knowledge 13 Governs lips 19 Fool Grieves his mother 1 Lazy and poor 4, 5 Babbles 8 Mouth of ruin 13 Multitude of words 19 Righteous Delivered from death 2 Blessings on his head 6 Name continues 7 Love – covers sin 12 Wicked Treasures not profit 2 Violence 6 He will rot 7 Hatred – 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 (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 (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 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 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 10 10:23 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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