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In die Skriflig

On-line version ISSN 2305-0853
Print version ISSN 1018-6441

In Skriflig (Online) vol.44 n.3-4 Pretoria Jan. 2010

 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Living wisely in a modern world1

 

Lewe wys in 'n moderne wêreld

 

 

L. Steyn

Department of Biblical and Religious Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PRETORIA. Email: lynettesteyn@webmail.co.za

 

 


ABSTRACT

People all over the world today have to compete for their daily bread and struggle to make ends meet. This represents the arena where humans battle to cope with the complexities of daily life. At the same time they try to find meaning in life and guidelines to live life well. It is here, in ordinary real life, where wisdom and folly compete for human loyalties and where the divine and the human meet (O'Connor, 1993:14). It is here where Proverbs 3 gives us diverse guidelines on how to live wisely in a modern world.

Key concepts: father and son, folly, Ma'at, new covenant, sages, wisdom, wise living


OPSOMMING

Die meeste mense leef met die las van daaglikse pligte, om kos op die tafel te hou, rekenings te betaal en om getrou aan al die vereistes van werk en liefde te voldoen. Regoordie wêreld sukkel mense om genoeg te verdien om te kan oorleef. Hierdie stryd verteenwoordig die arena waarin die mensdom veg om die kompleksiteite van hulle daaglikse lewe te kan hanteer. Terselfdertyd poog die mens om betekenis en sin in die lewe te vind en om riglyne daar te stel waarvolgens hulle goed kan lewe. Dit is hier, in die gewone alledaagse lewe, waar wysheid en dwaasheid wedywer om die mens se lojaliteit te wen. Dit is hier waar die bonatuurlike en die menslike ontmoet (O'Connor, 1993:14). Spreuke 3 gee talle riglyne waarvolgens die mens met wysheid in 'n moderne era kan lewe.

Kernbegrippe: dwaasheid, Ma'at (lewe volgens 'n goddelike orde), nuwe verbond, vader en seun, wyse leefwyse, wysgere wysheid


 

 

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1 This article is the outcome of an M.A. dissertation under the supervision of Prof. Dirk Human, Department of Old Testament Studies at the University of Pretoria.

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