Some of the proverbs or sayings could be considered truisms, but they do contain ageless, sage advice, along with a lot of common sense. The Wisdom literature exposes us to both types of reflection, especially in the books of Proverbs and Sirach. The answers may be different, but they are not contradictory. For example, the question “What is it to be just?” or “What does the just man do?” can be answered from a religious perspective or from a more secular bent. There is also wisdom to be gained from human experience and reflection. There is, of course, the wisdom that we learn from God himself through revelation. The reason for this length and breadth of interest is that wisdom comes to us in many forms. The Wisdom literature is a prime example of that broad outlook. The human authors of the Bible took an interest in more than just religious subjects, as anyone who reads the Bible can attest. It also includes hymns and even love poetry in the Song of Songs. The Wisdom literature of the Old Testament is an eclectic collection of proverbs, moral lessons, riddles, warnings, extended meditations, and philosophical inquiry and debate.
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