Discuss the relationship between ethics and sanctions in Proverbs 1-7.
The purpose the Proverbs serve is to act as a guide for King Solomon’s son. They were to teach him the right and wrongs, and act as a guide down the right path.
In the first chapter of the Proverbs, King Solomon writes how to tell good from evil. He uses the example of thievery and murder, and states that God will punish these people. The purpose was to be used as a guideline, and to teach his son that all evil comes back around. The second chapter of Proverbs teaches that the key to true power is wisdom and knowledge, not wealth. Solomon teaches that with wisdom, you can see the motives of all, and that you will able to weed out the evil from the good.
Through the third and sixth chapter, Solomon teaches his son the utter importance of never letting his wisdom go. Solomon stresses never losing your wisdom, as bad comes to those who are wicked. Solomon also teaches to be motivated and working, as it is the unmotivated that land in poverty. Staying motivated and working will bring more wisdom and knowledge to his son.
He teaches that adultery is a crime that will ruin your life, and you should never commit it. Prostitution and adultery are things that you should avoid and never devote any part of your life to. For the rest of Proverbs I will cover (1-7), Solomon sets several warnings regarding signing contracts with people you don’t know, seductive women, and losing your wisdom. This was all written with the intent of keeping his son in the right path, and to never go off the path of God.
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