Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl—Proverbs 22:13-18 Wise Words from Wise Men 1a

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Proverbs 22:13–18

[13] The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!

I shall be killed in the streets!”

[14] The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;

he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

[15] Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

[16] Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,

or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

[17] Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,

and apply your heart to my knowledge,

[18] for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips. (ESV)

Wise Words From Wise Men 1a

v.13 This proverb mocks the lazy person and their ridiculous excuses to avoid work. There were no lions in urban Palestine. They were only found in remote regions where people did not live.

v.14 A forbidden woman is any woman who is not your wife. The "deep pit" refers to all of her seductive charms. The Lord is angered by those who succumb to temptation by trying to withstand it on their own rather than admit their weakness and pray, "Lead us not into temptation."

v.15 This is one of the Bible's most famous verses and one of the most misinterpreted. All humans are born sinful (Genesis 8:21), which leads them away from God. This proverb advises that the threat of discipline and the application of punishment are necessary to curb (the first use of the Law!) innate human stupidity. It is not a verse advocating excessive physical punishment, but rather that our actions have consequences.

v.16 Here, two means of gaining wealth are contrasted, leading to the same end. First, those who take advantage of the poor by manipulating them economically, and second, by bribing those who are already wealthy and do not need more. The result of both is poverty. God will punish those who oppress the poor (Proverbs 14:31). It is both foolish and difficult to bribe the rich with more of what they already have. How much more difficult is it, then, to try to "bribe" God, who already possesses the universe? Yet we often try to make deals or bargains with Him rather than repent and change our behavior.

v.17 This verse serves as an introduction to a new section of the book relating words of wise people (22:17-24:22). These proverbs are adapted by Solomon through the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

v.18 With this verse, Solomon gives us two promises for paying attention to the words of the Wise. First, it is pleasant to internalize the words of the Wise and make them a part of us. In the liturgy, we pray, "Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them." Second, once internalized, the words of the Wise will be ready for our use. Unsaid but implied is that all of this Wisdom forms a cohesive whole that is internally consistent; that is to say, no one thing contradicts another. Ultimately, this means that the goal of Divine Wisdom is to put all our trust in God.