Daily Retreat 09/24/08
2008 Sep 24 Wed: Ordinary Weekday
Prv 30: 5-9/ Ps 118(119): 29. 72. 89. 101. 104. 163/ Lk 9: 1-6
From today’s readings: “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.... Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.... Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
Pondering Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs is actually a collection of collections of proverbs, which accounts for differences in length and style. The first nine chapters make up a general invitation to seek after wisdom - the proverbs in these chapters are intensely poetic, and can be quite complex, and for this reason are generally much longer than the pithy samples in yesterday’s first reading, which instead are intended to illustrate the different styles of proverbs found throughout the book.
Chapters 10-15 is a collection of mostly antithetical couplets, two poetic lines, combined in a single verse in our Bibles, that deliberately contrast: for example, “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent man ignores an insult.” Each of these lines could be quoted by itself, but taken together, the resulting contrast neatly adds emphasis to both of them.
In chapters 16-22, the couplets are almost all synonymous, or reiterative - instead of contrasting, they simply treat essentially the same theme with a slightly different twist or a clarifying development. Example - chapter 16, verse 16: “To get wisdom is better than gold; to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”
In chapters 22 -27, most of the proverbs are a bit longer, generally covering two verses instead of one - here’s a sample from chapter 24, verses 19-20:
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked;
for the wicked man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
Chapters 28-29 return to the single verse couplets, chapter 30 is a bit of a grab bag, and chapter 31 ends with a 21 verse poem of proverbs praising the ideal wife.
Literally hundreds of proverbial gems to enjoy throughout the book, so savor every one as you remember: “A proverb a day will help you hear what the Lord has to say!”
Prv 30: 5-9/ Ps 118(119): 29. 72. 89. 101. 104. 163/ Lk 9: 1-6
From today’s readings: “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.... Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.... Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
Pondering Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs is actually a collection of collections of proverbs, which accounts for differences in length and style. The first nine chapters make up a general invitation to seek after wisdom - the proverbs in these chapters are intensely poetic, and can be quite complex, and for this reason are generally much longer than the pithy samples in yesterday’s first reading, which instead are intended to illustrate the different styles of proverbs found throughout the book.
Chapters 10-15 is a collection of mostly antithetical couplets, two poetic lines, combined in a single verse in our Bibles, that deliberately contrast: for example, “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent man ignores an insult.” Each of these lines could be quoted by itself, but taken together, the resulting contrast neatly adds emphasis to both of them.
In chapters 16-22, the couplets are almost all synonymous, or reiterative - instead of contrasting, they simply treat essentially the same theme with a slightly different twist or a clarifying development. Example - chapter 16, verse 16: “To get wisdom is better than gold; to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”
In chapters 22 -27, most of the proverbs are a bit longer, generally covering two verses instead of one - here’s a sample from chapter 24, verses 19-20:
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked;
for the wicked man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
Chapters 28-29 return to the single verse couplets, chapter 30 is a bit of a grab bag, and chapter 31 ends with a 21 verse poem of proverbs praising the ideal wife.
Literally hundreds of proverbial gems to enjoy throughout the book, so savor every one as you remember: “A proverb a day will help you hear what the Lord has to say!”
posted by FrPitstick | 9/21/2008
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