Wisdom Psalms

Wisdom Psalms

• What is a "wisdom psalm"?– Characteristics of wisdom literature.

• Wicked vs Righteous, Evil vs Good• Rewards & punishment• Wisdom or instruction terminology

• Is "wisdom psalm" a form or genre?– Depends upon who you ask.

Wisdom PsalmsPs.

Gunkel 1933

Mow. 1955

Von Rad 1972

Murphy 1962

Perdue 1977

Gerstenberger 1974/88

Hurvitz 1988

Kuntz 74/00/02

Whybray 1995/96

Bellinger 1990

Wilson 2002/05

Terrien 2003

DeClaisse 2004

Brown 2010

1 x x x x x x x x x x x8 x x14 x x18 (x)19 x x25 (x) x (x) x27 (x)31 (x) (x)32 x x x (x) x x x33 x34 x x x x x x x x x x37 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x39 (x) x (x) x40 (x) (x)41 (x)49 x x x x x x x x x x x x x62 (x) x73 x x x x x x x x x x x78 x x x x x86 (x)90 x x x91 x x92 (x) (x) (x)94 (x) (x) (x)105 x (x)106 x107 (x) x111 x x (x)112 x x x x x x x x x x x x x119 (x) x (x) x x x (x) x x x x127 (x) x x (x) x x x x x x128 x x x x x x x131 x133 x x x x x139 x x x144 (x) x145 x x146 (x) x

Psalm 11 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the

counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 37{Of David} 1Do not fret because of the

wickedwicked; do not be envious of wrongdoerswrongdoers, 2 for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do goodgood; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindicationvindication shine like the light, and the justicejustice of your cause like the noonday.

Psalm 377 Be still before the LORD, and wait

patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosperprosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devicesevil devices. 8 Refrain from angeranger, and forsake wrathwrath. Do not fret-it leads only to evilevil. 9 For the wickedwicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while, and the wickedwicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.

Psalm 3711 But the meekthe meek shall inherit the land, and

delight themselves in abundant prosperity. 12 The wickedwicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them; 13 but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming. 14 The wickedwicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needythe poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly; 15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

Psalm 3716 Better is a little that the righteousrighteous person

has than the abundance of many wickedwicked. 17 For the arms of the wickedwicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteousrighteous. 18 The LORD knows the days of the blamelessblameless, and their heritage will abide forever; 19 they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance. 20 But the wickedwicked perish, and the enemiesenemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish-like smoke they vanish away.

Psalm 3725 I have been young, and now am old, yet I

have not seen the righteousrighteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26 They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessingblessing. 27 Depart from evilevil, and do goodgood; so you shall abide forever. 28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful onesfaithful ones. The righteousrighteous shall be kept safe forever, but the children of the wickedchildren of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalm 3730 The mouths of the righteousrighteous utter wisdomwisdom, and their tongues speak justicejustice. 31 The law of their GodGod is in their hearts; their steps do not slip. 32 The wickedwicked watch for the righteousrighteous, and seek to kill them. 33 The LORD will not abandon them to their power, or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial. 34 Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on the destruction of the wickedwicked.

Psalm 3737 Mark the blamelessblameless, and behold the

upright, for there is posterity for the peaceablepeaceable. 38 But transgressorstransgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wickedwicked shall be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteousrighteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wickedwicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him

Psalm 491 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor alike: 3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding. 4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: 5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? (NIV)

Psalm 497 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him— 8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— 9 that he should live on forever and not see decay. 10 For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. 12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish (NIV).

Psalm 1121Praise the LORD! Happy are those who

fearfear the LORD, who greatly delightdelight in his commandments. 2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousnessrighteousness endures forever. 4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteousgracious, merciful, and righteous. 5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justicejustice.

Psalm 1126 For the righteousrighteous will never be moved; they will

be remembered forever. 7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD. 8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 9 They have distributed freelydistributed freely, they have givenhave given to the poorpoor; their righteousnessrighteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor. 10 The wickedwicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wickedwicked comes to nothing.

Psalm 1281 Blessed are all who fearfear the Lord, who walk in his ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.

4 Thus is the man blessed (ָּב��ַר�ק) who fearsfears the Lord. 5 May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, 6 and may you live to see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel. (NIV)