Yoriko Sakasegawa

Proverbs 29 opens with a striking image. "The one who stiffens his neck." Let's begin by looking at the Hebrew text. אִישׁ תּוֹכָחוֹת מַקְשֶׁה־עֹרֶף (Ish Tokhachot Maqsheh Oref) אִישׁ　 　　(Ish) — a man, a person תּוֹכָחוֹת　 　　(Tokhachot) — reproofs, correction, rebukes מַקְשֶׁה　 　　(Maqsheh) — one who hardens, one who makes hard עֹרֶף　 　　(Oref) — neck, the back of the neck 　　 The verb מַקְשֶׁה is a Hiphil participle. It does not describe someone whose neck has simply become stiff. It describes...

This chapter contains many verses that speak about ourselves. For example, Do not boast about tomorrow. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth. Your own heart. Your own flock. More than anything else, the chapter seems to focus on how we relate to ourselves. Let's take a look at the Hebrew text of verse 1. (Al-tithallel be-yom maḥar) אַל־תִּתְהַלֵּל בְּיוֹם מָחָר 「Do not boast about tomorrow.」 (Ki lo teda mah yeled yom) כִּי לֹא־תֵדַע מַה־יֵּלֶד יוֹם 「For you do not know what a day...

Proverbs 26 begins with a long series about the fool (verses 1–11). One of the most interesting parts is verses 4 and 5. 「Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will become like him.(v.4)」 「Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. (v.5)」 "Do not answer." "Answer." These two seemingly contradictory commands stand side by side. From the very beginning, wisdom cannot be reduced to a simple rule or formula. It reminds me of the previous...