Proverbs for the Wise

The Biblical proverbs, however, are not only for the inexperienced and the young.  They are for anyone wise enough to listen.  "A wise person will listen and take in more instruction," says King Solomon, "and a man of understanding is the one who acquires skillful direction, to understand a proverb and a puzzling saying, the words of wise persons and their riddles."  (Proverbs 1:5, 6)  A person who has already acquired wisdom will increase his learning by giving attention to the proverbs, and a man of understanding will sharpen his ability to steer his life successfully.

A proverb often expresses a profound truth in very few words.  A Biblical proverb may take the form of a puzzling saying.  (Proverbs 1:17-19) Some proverbs are riddles-perplexing and knotty statements that require unraveling.  A proverb may also contain similes, metaphors, and other figures of speech.  Understanding these takes time and meditation.  Solomon, the composer of so many proverbs, certainly grasped the nuances of understanding a proverb.  In the book of Proverbs, he undertakes the task of imparting that ability to his readers, something to which a wise person would want to pay attention. 

Next time: The Beginning That Leads to the Goal

The Watchtower, 1999