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The Book of Proverbs (Hebrew: מִשְלֵי, Mišlê; Greek: Παροιμίαι; Latin: Liber Proverbiorum, "Proverbs (of Solomon)") is a book in the third section (called Ketuvim) of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament traditionally ascribed to King Solomon and his students.[1] When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms: in the Greek Septuagint (LXX), it became Παροιμίαι (Paroimiai, "Proverbs"); in the Latin Vulgate, the title was Proverbia—from which the English name is derived.
Proverbs is not merely an anthology but a "collection of collections" relating to a pattern of life that lasted for more than a millennium.[2] It is an example of Biblical wisdom literature and raises questions about values, moral behavior, the meaning of human life, and right conduct,[3] and its theological foundation is that "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom."[4] Wisdom is personified and praised for her role in creation; God acquired her before all else and gave order to chaos through her. As humans have life and prosperity by conforming to the order of creation, seeking wisdom is the essence and goal of life.[5]
The book of Proverbs is divided into sections: the initial invitation to acquire wisdom, another section focused mainly on contrasting the wise and the fool, and the third being moral discourses on various topics. Chapters 25–29 discuss justice, the wicked, and the rich and poor; chapter 30 introduces the "sayings of Agur" on creation and divine power.[6][7]
- ^ Berlin 2011, p. 588.
- ^ Clements 2003, p. 438.
- ^ Alter 2010, pp. xiii–xvii.
- ^ Longman & Garland 2009, p. 50.
- ^ Boccaccini 2002, p. 106.
- ^ de Almeida, João Ferreira, ed. (1974), "Os provérbios", A Bíblia sagrada (Versão revisada de acordo com os melhores textos em hebraico e grego ed.), Rio de Janeiro: Imprensa bíblica brasileira, Junta de educação religiosa, Convenção batista brasileira, xxii:17,
Breves discursos morais do sábio acerca de vários assuntos
. - ^ Proverbs 24:23: New King James Version