Definition of proverb noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
proverb
nounProverbs 1:1
HEB: מִ֭שְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בֶן־
NAS: The proverbs of Solomon the son
KJV: The proverbs of Solomon the son
INT: the proverbs of Solomon the son
Proverbs 10:1
HEB: מִשְׁלֵ֗י שְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה פ
NAS: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise
KJV: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise
INT: the proverbs of Solomon son
Proverbs 25:1
HEB: גַּם־ אֵ֭לֶּה מִשְׁלֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: also are proverbs of Solomon
KJV: These [are] also proverbs of Solomon,
INT: also These are proverbs of Solomon which
ḥāḵ·māh — 74 Occurrences
חָכְמָ֣ה
Exodus 28:3
HEB: מִלֵּאתִ֖יו ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֑ה וְעָשׂ֞וּ אֶת־
NAS: with the spirit of wisdom, that they make
KJV: with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make
INT: have endowed the spirit of wisdom make garments
da·‘aṯ — 52 Occurrences
דַּ֣עַת
Numbers 24:16
HEB: אֵ֔ל וְיֹדֵ֖עַ דַּ֣עַת עֶלְי֑וֹן מַחֲזֵ֤ה
NAS: And knows the knowledge of the Most High,
KJV: and knew the knowledge of the most High,
INT: of God and knows the knowledge of the Most the vision
What Kind of Fool?
Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel. Proverbs 20:3 NASB
Fool – Proverbs employs several different words for the English “fool.” Knowing which one makes a big difference. “Fool” can be the translation of ‘ewil (as it is here), or kesil or nabal. Sometimes it is even the translation of lets (usually “scoffer”). There are differences not captured in English. ‘ewil is someone who not only lacks sense but is morally deficient or corrupt. In Hebrew, the word “fool” doesn’t usually describe a person without commonsense or street savvy. It is not about someone who is stupid. It is about someone who either ignores the moral government of God or acts in opposition to God’s sovereign reign or both. Kesil is someone who is simply ignorant of the moral demands of God. While this person acts against God’s instructions at the time, it is still possible for an awakening since his disobedience is not deliberate. For this person, Leviticus provides restoration and renewed access to the Kingdom. But ‘ewil is in far more trouble. He acts with intentional disregard for what he knows to be true, claiming that as long as no immediate consequences befall him, no real harm is done. He operates on the moral principle of what he can get away with. He is a walking, waiting disaster. He is a man who has all the answers and proudly announces such.
Then there is the nabal. This word is used to describe a false prophet among others. This is a person who shames his parents, disregards civility, runs at the mouth and will eventually die a disrespectful death. He has no fear of God or Man and his life displays the consequences of this attitude. Proverbs strongly suggests avoiding such a person since this attitude about life will also lead others astray.
Finally, there is lets. This is a person of contempt; one who mocks and ridicules. Amazingly, our culture often idolizes such Cretans as if scoffing or taunting others is a mark of supremacy. We might want to reconsider the real impact of making jokes at another’s expense. This man satirizes his opponents, derides their morality and generally jeers at any ethics he does not wish to endorse. As far as the biblical text is concerned, such a person is without hope in the olam ha’ba. It is far better to simply walk away than to engage this kind of fool. In at least one sense, even God has written him off.
If you run across a kesil, there is still time for recovery. The only obstacle to a morally upright life is education (by the way, this is not “information”). Ignorance is not bliss. In this case, it is considerable danger. But if you encounter an ‘ewil, you will know as soon as his mouth opens that there is no end to his protests and he is a bottomless pit in his demands. Let him go. No honor is found in arguing with one who does not wish to learn. As for the other two “fools,” take the first “Exit” you can find.
Topical Index: fool, ‘ewil, kasil, nabal, lets, Proverbs 20:3
Dr. J. Vernon McGee :: Outline for Proverbs
OUTLINE:
I. Wisdom and folly contrasted, Chapters 1—9
II. Proverbs of Solomon, written and set in order by himself, Chapters 10—24
III. Proverbs of Solomon, set in order by men of Hezekiah, Chapters 25—29
The Conclusion of the Matter
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.[b] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
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The Little Ways That Encourage Good Fortune
by William Stafford
Wisdom is having things right in your life
and knowing why.
If you do not have things right in your life
you will be overwhelmed:
you may be heroic, but you will not be wise.
If you have things right in your life
but do not know why,
you are just lucky, and you will not move
in the little ways that encourage good fortune.
The saddest are those not right in their lives
who are acting to make things right for others:
they act only from the self—
and that self will never be right:
no luck, no help, no wisdom.
Writers Almanac January 22nd 2022
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2 Samuel 7
God’s Promise to David
7 After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[b]; your throne will be established forever.’”
17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
Proverbs 1 NIV
- 1
- The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
- 2
- for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
- 3
- for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
- 4
- for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--
- 5
- let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--
- 6
- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
- 7
- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools [1] despise wisdom and discipline.
- 8
- Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
- 9
- They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
- 10
- My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
- 11
- If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;
- 12
- let's swallow them alive, like the grave, [2] and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
- 13
- we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
- 14
- throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"--
- 15
- my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
- 16
- for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
- 17
- How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!
- 18
- These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!
- 19
- Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.
- 20
- Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;
- 21
- at the head of the noisy streets [3] she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
- 22
- "How long will you simple ones [4] love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
- 23
- If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.
- 24
- But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,
- 25
- since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,
- 26
- I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you--
- 27
- when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
- 28
- "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.
- 29
- Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,
- 30
- since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
- 31
- they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
- 32
- For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
- 33
- but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
- [7] The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote one who is morally deficient.
- [12] Hebrew Sheol
- [21] Hebrew; Septuagint / on the tops of the walls
- [22] The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs generally denotes one without moral direction and inclined to evil.
