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“The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.” This is how the Book of Proverbs begins. “My son…” The call continues. Listen. Incline your heart. Do not forsake instruction. When we open chapter 10, the scenery changes. Short sayings begin to appear, almost like a collection of maxims. The heading now reads: “The proverbs of Solomon.” This time, Solomon appears without his royal titles. Before the readers who have been listening to a father's instruction, new sc

In Proverbs 8, Wisdom herself spoke. “I am wisdom.” Wisdom raised her voice at the city gates, in the places where people come and go. In Proverbs 9, Wisdom takes another step. She builds her house, prepares her table, and invites people to come. 　 “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.” 　 Wisdom does not merely speak. She invites people to her table. Yet Proverbs 9 presents another invitation. Folly also raises her voice. 　 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eat

In Proverbs 7, there were two voices. The father's voice in the first half: “My son, keep my words; treasure up my commandments within you.” And the voice of the adulterous woman in the second half: “Come, let us delight ourselves in love.” The father's voice and the adulterous woman's voice stand side by side throughout Proverbs 7. Then Proverbs 8 begins: “Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?” And later Wisdom declares: 　אֲנִי־חָכְמָה　 　 “I am wi

“My son, keep my words and store up my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.” 　　　　　　　　　　— Proverbs 7:1–2 “To keep you from the adulterous woman, from the foreign woman whose words are smooth.” 　　　　　　　　　　— Proverbs 7:5 At first glance, these words may sound strict. Be careful of sexual temptation. Proverbs 7 begins with the voice of a father calling, “My son.” A command also appears in Genesis: “From every tree of th

Proverbs 6 begins in an unexpected place. If you become trapped by the words of your own mouth, it says that you must do everything you can to free yourself. A situation that could happen to anyone. Next comes a warning against laziness. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest. Nothing extraordinary. The chapter speaks about the ordinary realities that arise in everyday life. Surety. Complacency. Conflict. Adultery. It does not begin with grand

People don't usually hate knowledge. They read the Bible. They attend lectures. But being told they are wrong — that they resist. Proverbs 12:1 is not asking: "Do you love knowledge?" It is asking: "Do you love being corrected?" Not how much you know. But whether you welcome correction. Do you want to accumulate knowledge? Or do you want to be corrected by the voice of God? Many people study Scripture. But few rejoice when the text corrects them. That is what this verse seems

Proverbs 5 is often read as a warning against adultery, or as a warning against the adulterous woman. Indeed, the text speaks about these things. Yet the first words we hear are these: “My son, pay attention to my wisdom; turn your ear to my words of insight.” 　　　　　(Proverbs 5:1) The first voice we hear is not the voice of the adulterous woman. It is the voice of a father. The father speaks. “Pay attention.” “Listen.” “Hear.” His call continues. Then another voice appears. “F

כִּי־בֵן הָיִיתִי לְאָבִי “I was my father's son.” 　　　　 (Proverbs 4:3) The one speaking is Solomon, known throughout Scripture as the king of wisdom. Yet before he stands as a wise man, he stands as a son. In Proverbs 3, we heard the words: “My son, do not forget my teaching.” Do not forget. Keep it in your heart. As that call continues into Proverbs 4, another figure begins to emerge— the father who is speaking. “I was my father's son.” Solomon himself was one who received.

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart.” 　　　　(Proverbs 3:1) Proverbs chapter 3 also begins with a call: “My son.” Then comes the exhortation: “Do not forget my teaching.” “Keep my commands in your heart.” Before, “Learn.” Before, “Understand.” The father first says: “Do not forget.” For then, you will be placed in peace, in life, and in blessing. What is “my teaching”? What are “my commands”? Rather than rushing to an answer, first, let us ling

While reading Proverbs 3, I suddenly noticed something. In chapter 1, there is: “My son.” In chapter 2: “My son.” In chapter 3: “My son.” In chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 as well, the opening call is: “My son.” The phrase “My son” appears elsewhere in Proverbs, yet chapters 1–7 repeatedly begin with this call. As I sat with these chapters, a certain landscape began to emerge. First, the father calls. Then he speaks. He speaks again. And again. Over and over. “My son.” “Hear.” “Incl