Proverbs Today

Does the book of Proverbs work in the 21st century? It is time to review impressions from the previous posts. This post is slightly more subjective than the others.

Surprisingly Familiar

Considering that Proverbs is almost three thousand years old, I think it is surprising how up-to-date it appears.

There were alcohol problems back then, too.

Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
Ordspråks­boken 23:31-32

There was haggling in the marketplace.

“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.
Proverbs 20:14

Gossip and sensationalism were well known.

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Proverbs 18:8

These things ring familiar in spite of the enormous distance in time and cultural setting. It is remarkable that human nature has not changed more over the centuries. Massive progress in technology and other areas has fundamentally changed our society. One might expect that human nature would perhaps change with it, but I am inclined to think that the differences are quite small. The ancient origin of Proverbs is not a valid reason for dismissing it.

Natural Laws of Human Behaviour?

We have repeatedly mentioned natural laws of human behaviour. Many sayings in Proverbs have this form: do A and B will happen.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9

As a crisp and succinct principle, it is true that walking in integrity is safer than making one’s ways crooked. It is relevant as a general recommendation.

But is it a natural law? There is lots of real-life experience indicating that life is not that predictable. Proverbs was not written by dummies. They must have known that life is not simple and programmed. Exactly this question—do things go well for the good and badly for the wicked?—takes up most of the book of Job in the Old Testament. (You may find an introduction here: Struck By Misfortune.) Job and his three friends twist and turn the arguments in chapter after chapter. People at that time were definitely not unfamiliar with the complexities of life.

At times Proverbs seems to deal with physical natural laws. How about the following?

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
Proverbs 26:27

Should we conclude that Proverbs denies the law of gravity? Of course not. Sayings like this are intended to prompt the reader to start thinking.

There is a limit to what extent you may strain the metaphor of natural laws. Physical natural laws may be translated to mathematics, but not human behaviour.

Contradiction?

How about the following two consecutive sayings?

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:4-5

Dismissing them as a contradiction would be a hasty conclusion. Proverbs rather presents a predicament. Here is someone, claiming some brainless stuff. Should I argue with him and by that admit that his ideas are serious? Or should I reject him outright, risking that he just goes on to spread his nonsense? Wisdom would factor in all details and adapt to the situation.

Marriage

In the world of Proverbs, no other marriages exist than the monogamous union between man and woman. This is, of course, in obvious breach of our times.

Proverbs devotes considerable space to faithfulness in marriage and warnings against illicit love affairs—most of three entire chapters (5-7). The allure must have been as obvious then as it is now. Proverbs categorically advises against adultery; it comes to a bitter end.

The fact that King Solomon, the main author of Proverbs, is said to have had hundreds of wives is an in-your-face deviation from these principles. He also paid dearly for it.

Giving Pledge

I am personally surprised by how clearly Proverbs advises against giving a pledge for someone else. If you have, you should try everything to break free from your commitment.

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, f you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Proverbs 6:1-5

It seems this applies not only to actually giving a pledge, but also anything you have promised too much. It is implied and goes without saying that whatever you have said holds. If your words have been rash, you should do everything to get free.

Summary

There is a lot of recognition factor in Proverbs. The format, crisp, short sayings is effective. It helps them stay in memory.

Proverbs counts on the discernment of its readers. It leaves blanks for you to fill in. This is an acknowledgement that life is not just about simple choices.

At one point I worked in a team where the leader ended up in brawls with departments just about everywhere in this big enterprise. I noticed it was contagious. Finally, no one in the team was welcome anywhere, even though only the leader was so combative. I contemplated these proverbs:

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
Proverbs 18:1

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
Proverbs 20:3

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Proverbs 22:24-25

Proverbs made me seek a transfer to a different team. This may be a trivial example, but when you are in the middle of a crunch, it is easy to doubt your own judgement. In such moments, the straightforward signposts of Proverbs are valuable.

I cast my vote for using Proverbs in the 21st century. It is up to you to decide how relevant you allow Proverbs to be in your life.