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WIDDER, Wendy L.. The Peti and the Power of Speech in Proverbs 1-9. Old testam. essays [online]. 2022, vol.35, n.1, pp.111-127. ISSN 2312-3621.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2022/v35n1a8.

Speech is a prominent theme throughout ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature. Accordingly, the proverbs in Proverbs 10-29 offer extensive instruction about the nature and power of speech. Speech also pervades Proverbs 1-9, a series of instructive lectures and interludes. However, speech is not primarily a topic of instruction; rather, it is a vehicle for instruction. Proverbs 1-9 puts speech on the lips of competing voices-the father, the gang, the seductress, Lady Wisdom, and Lady Folly-and admonishes, seduces, and encourages the son (the peti), who is presented with a choice: To whom will he listen? These chapters draw attention to what might be considered the most important trait of the peti: being a discerning listener. This article argues that, by prefacing the instruction of chapters 10-29 with chapters 1-9, the compiler of Proverbs sets discernment as the fundamental requirement for the instruction that follows. It surveys the topic of "speech" in ancient Egyptian wisdom literature; examines "speech" proverbs in Proverbs 10-29; and evaluates how "speech " in Proverbs 1-9 contributes to the portrayal of a teachable peti and one's approach to the rest of the book.

Palabras clave : Proverbs; Speech; Wisdom; Instruction; Rhetoric.

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