What is a proverb? Does wisdom change with time? Where does wisdom come from? Is wisdom more important than intelligence?
"A case for natural wisdom" is based on Proverbs 1
Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
when panic strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.
For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”
Works Referenced
Atkin, Emily. “Predicting climate chaos, Morgan Stanley touts air conditioning profit potential.” Heated. April 10, 2025. https://heated.world/p/predicting-climate-chaos-morgan-stanley
Clifford, Richard J. “Introduction to Wisdom Literature.” In New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume III. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015.
Dubner, Stephen J. “Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System.” [Interview with Jessica Riedl.] Freakonomics podcast. March 14, 2025. https://overcast.fm/+AAWaLHnJsy4
Fox, Michael V. “Proverbs.” In The Jewish Study Bible: Second Edition, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Guo, Jeff, Latif Nasser, Pat Walters, Soren Wheeler, Alex Goldmark, and Jess Jiang. “PM x Radiolab: Can the economy grow forever?” Planet Money/Radiolab podcast. March 28, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/1241388988/radiolab-economic-growth-resources-gdp
Oduyoye, Amba Oduyoye. Beads and Strands: Reflections of an African Woman in Christianity in Africa. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2004.
Pauw, Amy Plantinga. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. (BELIEF: A Theological Commentary on the Bible). Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015. Kindle edition.
Perplexity.ai, response to "What are the main themes of the Book of Proverbs," Perplexity.ai, April 10, 2025.
Zi, Lao. Dao De Jing. (Classical Pocket Book Series of China). Translated by Lin Yutang.
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