walk in harmony with our calling, we shall value these words of guidance; we cannot be

practically righteous if unwise, undisciplined and undiscerning.

The second proverb contemplates growth, advancement, and ability to help others.

The "simple" are literally the "open ones", and are frequently mentioned in the book:

they are classed with sinners and fools (1: 22); their turning away from the call of wisdom

is fatal to themselves (1: 32); the simple believe everything, they pass on and are

punished (14: 15; 22: 3); all these passages if considered in their contexts reveal the

fact that these simple ones are perishing for lack of instruction. "Discretion" preserves, it

is life to the soul, it guards the life (2: 11; 3: 21; 5: 2). Verse 4 having spoken of those

who need instruction, verse 5 proceeds to tell who is fitted to give it, "A wise man will

hear, and increase learning". The word "learning" means "to take", and indicates that the

wise man continues to take instruction; the best teachers are ever learning, ever

increasing their capacity to receive, "and a man of understanding", one who has become

"discerning", "shall attain unto wise counsels". The word rendered "wise counsels" is

derived from a word meaning "a cord", "a rope", or a "tackling". The "Shipmaster" in

Jonah 1: 6 is literally "the chief of the rope". Wise counsels, therefore, indicate guidance

and leading in the sense of navigating a vessel at sea; here then is the qualification for the

We now consider the third proverb, which deals with the grand secret of

understanding the deep things of God. The A.V. by rendering, "to understand a proverb

and the interpretation", does not take us very far, for how else can a proverb be

understood than by its interpretation? The Companion Bible renders "interpretation" by

"satire, or the point of what is said". Hab. 2: 6 translates it "taunting". The meaning of

"a proverb and its point" seems to be given in the next phrase, "the words of the wise (the

proverb), and their dark sayings" (the point). What is the "beginning", the sine qua non,

for such knowledge? THE FEAR OF THE LORD. Not so much the brain, as the heart is

here put first, this "fear of the Lord" is the "wisdom and discipline" that "fools despise".

The three proverbs open this book of wise sayings that are full and deep; their

arrangement is simple, being an alternation:--

We commend these opening words of Proverbs to all our readers, and hope that the

need for wisdom in these perilous times may be realized, and that we may be guided

along our pilgrim journey by these inspired "words of the wise".