Proverbs 22

By thissmallgroup, October 22, 2019

This chapter features a transition from King Solomon’s words, to “Sayings of the Wise” recorded in the name of Hezekiah, a king of Judah. When the author changes, readers can also notice a change in the style of writing. Hezekiah’s “Sayings of the Wise” call readers to pay attention to his words, then present his proverbs in slightly longer verses. There are a lot of “do’s” and “do not’s,” followed immediately by the consequences of following the direction. Hezekiah’s men provide these thirty phrases in the hopes that they will teach the readers “to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve” (21).

Verse 1: “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Verse 4: “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.”

Verse 10: “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.”