Genuine concern for the poor is a sign of wisdom while the absence of it is a sign of folly. These words are directed to the rulers. Fools, we are reminded, are more interested in loudly expressing their opinion than in learning wisdom. Rulers are advised to listen to the prophets and wise men in their decision making. Slaves require more stern correction than children. If scolding does not work, then beat them into submission. In Chapter 30 the wise man appears as one who is aware of his ignorance. “Surely I am too stupid to be a man.” Furthermore, he knows that God’s ways are inaccessible to human wisdom. A prayer of petition follows; a prayer to have a trustful spirit and to have a happy life somewhere between extravagant wealth and extreme poverty. The author first lists four types of people who are hateful in the eyes of God: the unfilial, the self-righteous, the proud, and the greedy. Then, he turns to classification of the small things in nature. He muses at how some aspects of nature compare with the mystery of human courtship. Have scientists not continued this classification of small things which have led to our evolving understanding of the building blocks of nature? Chapter 31 discusses the duties of a king and the good wife. The king must avoid corruption, excessive sex and alcohol. The good wife is responsible for the running of the household with kindness, intelligence (not beauty), industry and above all a religious spirit
Genuine concern for the poor is a sign of wisdom while the absence of it is a sign of folly. These words are directed to the rulers. Fools, we are reminded, are more interested in loudly expressing their opinion than in learning wisdom. Rulers are advised to listen to the prophets and wise men in their decision making. Slaves require more stern correction than children. If scolding does not work, then beat them into submission. In Chapter 30 the wise man appears as one who is aware of his ignorance. “Surely I am too stupid to be a man.” Furthermore, he knows that God’s ways are inaccessible to human wisdom. A prayer of petition follows; a prayer to have a trustful spirit and to have a happy life somewhere between extravagant wealth and extreme poverty. The author first lists four types of people who are hateful in the eyes of God: the unfilial, the self-righteous, the proud, and the greedy. Then, he turns to classification of the small things in nature. He muses at how some aspects of nature compare with the mystery of human courtship. Have scientists not continued this classification of small things which have led to our evolving understanding of the building blocks of nature? Chapter 31 discusses the duties of a king and the good wife. The king must avoid corruption, excessive sex and alcohol. The good wife is responsible for the running of the household with kindness, intelligence (not beauty), industry and above all a religious spirit
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