Proverbs 1:1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
I. Title and Introduction
Chapter 1
Purpose of the Proverbs of Solomon[a]
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- 1:1–7 The prologue explains the purpose of the book. The book has a sapiential, ethical, and religious dimension: to bring the inexperienced to knowledge and right conduct, to increase the facility of those already wise for interpreting proverbs, parables and riddles, and to encourage the fulfillment of one’s duties to God.
- 1:1 Proverbs: the Hebrew word mashal is broader than English “proverb,” embracing the instructions of chaps. 1–9 and the sayings, observations, and comparisons of chaps. 10–31.
Proverbs 15:20
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
20 A wise son gives his father joy,
but a fool despises his mother.(A)
Proverbs 17:25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
25 A foolish son is vexation to his father,
and bitter sorrow to her who bore him.(A)
Proverbs 19:13
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
13 The foolish son is ruin to his father,(A)
and a quarrelsome wife is water constantly dripping.[a]
Footnotes
- 19:13 One of many sayings about domestic happiness. The perspective is male; the two greatest pains to a father is a malicious son and an unsuitable wife. The immediately following saying is on the noble wife, perhaps to make a positive statement about women.
Proverbs 25:1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
VI. Second Solomonic Collection, Collected Under King Hezekiah[a]
Chapter 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon.(A) The servants of Hezekiah,[b] king of Judah, transmitted them.
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- 25:1–29:27
Chaps. 25–29 make up the fifth collection in the book, and the third longest. King Hezekiah reigned in Judah in 715–687 B.C. According to 2 Kgs 18–20 and 2 Chr 29–32, he initiated political and religious reforms after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. Such reforms probably included copying and editing sacred literature such as Proverbs. Prv 25:1 is an important piece of evidence about the composition of the book, suggesting this collection was added to an already-existing collection also attributed to Solomon. The older collection is probably 10:1–22:16 (or part of it). By the end of the eighth century B.C., therefore, there existed in Israel two large collections of aphorisms.
Chap. 25 has two general themes: (1) social hierarchy, rank, or position; (2) social conflict and its resolution.
- 25:1 The servants of Hezekiah: presumably scribes at the court of Hezekiah. Transmitted: lit., “to move, transfer from,” hence “to collect,” and perhaps also to arrange and compose.
Proverbs 29:15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
15 The rod of correction gives wisdom,
but uncontrolled youths disgrace their mothers.(A)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.