WISDOM AND PROPHETS 151
observational. Proverbs is clear
that God lies at the heart of reality
and about the need to be humble
as a result. “Trust in the Lord with
all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding” (3:5) is one
of its admonitions. Wisdom, it
suggests, is learned through God.
The maxims it offers on human
affairs focus on areas such as
family, anger, poverty, and
righteousness, but cannot be truly
heeded without fear of the Lord.Wisdom incarnate
Proverbs makes intriguing claims
about God and heaven in the voice
of personified Wisdom. She speaks of
how she is “the first of His works”
(8:22), continuing: “I was therewhen He set the heavens in place”
(8:27). She even claims to have
been a craftsperson at God’s side
during creation.
This idea would be later
picked up and developed by
New Testament writers, notably
the author of John’s Gospel.
He sets out the idea of the Logos,
or Word, who “was with God in
the beginning,” through whom
“all things were made” and who
became incarnate as Jesus.
Proverbs’ personified Wisdom
contributed to the idea of God’s
wisdom incarnate being a part
of the Holy Trinity, leading to
the establishment of the later
doctrine of Jesus’s incarnation
(see pp. 298–99). ■Eshet Hayil
Proverbs’ final half chapter
is an acrostic poem—one in
which each stanza begins
with a succeeding letter of the
Hebrew alphabet—extolling
the virtues of a woman of
“valor” or “noble character.”
Eshet Hayil in Hebrew, this
woman is the perfect wife and
mother, whose “worth is far
more than rubies” (31:10).
By no means confined to the
home, she works hard, has
a good business head, and
is generous to the poor.
Presiding over her household
with dignity, she brings honor
to her husband, who finds
himself “respected at the
city gate, where he takes his
seat among the elders of the
land” (31:23).
The portrait the Eshet
Hayil creates has resonated
over the centuries, and in
devout Jewish households it
is often sung or recited at
the start of the Kiddush, the
Friday evening ceremony
that ushers in the Sabbath.
According to the mystical
kabbalistic tradition of
Judaism, it refers to God’s
Shekhinah, or divine presence,
associated with a maternal,
nurturing role. In other
interpretations, it can be seen
more simply as the family
paying tribute to the mother.
The passage that proceeds the
acrostic narrates the lessons
King Lemuel has received from
his mother, so the poem may
also be his own glorifying
eulogy for her in return.
In some households the
Eshet Hayil is balanced
with a recital of Psalm 112:
“Blessed are those who fear
the Lord, who find great
delight in his commands.”“Better a patient
person than a warrior,
one with self-control than
one who takes a city.”
Proverbs 16:32
Seek inner peace before
the peace of others.“Ponder the path of
your feet; then all your
ways will be sure.”
Proverbs 4:26
Know the road you
are taking.Familiar Proverbs
“Open your mouth
for the mute, for the rights
of all who are destitute.”
Proverbs 31:8
Help those who cannot
help themselves.“Pride goes before
destruction, a haughty
spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16.18
Be humble before
the Lord.US_148-151_Proverbs.indd 151 21/09/17 4:12 pm