Footnotes

1. Proverbs 13:1 In this uninterrupted accumulation of ancient proverbs, we find words about education and good sense; if one proverb highlights the burden of wealth, another presents it as a reward. However, in these diverse aphorisms the idea of a righteous life is always there, even though the author allows strongly opposed conceptions to be expressed. In all countries, each proverb finds its counter-maxim; but from the whole a vision of things comes through that is proper to a civilization or a religion.
   Rather than giving direct teaching, the Book of Proverbs provides us with an atmosphere in which to reflect; we are to learn to appreciate the mood and the felicitous formulation, without taking each maxim literally. We must bear in mind the penchant of Semitic poetry for strong expressions and its use of parallelism (either repetition or contrast).
2. Proverbs 13:1 A mocker will not accept any rebuke: see notes on Prov 1:22; 9:7-12.