The lines within the poem can play together in lots of different ways. This can be through synonym, antithesis, the completion of an idea, etc. This means that the verses are written in two or three lines, and the second and third lines are in relation to the first by interacting with its meaning. The psalms are written in poetry, and, like other books, the poems often have a parallel structure. It is also the prayer book of Jews and Christians today. The book of Psalms is sometimes called the prayer book of ancient Israel. It is not in our power to know all things, but we do have to decide what to do with the time we have. There is a certain humility requisite for the wise man. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hand be idle: For you do not know which of the two will be successful, or whether both alike will turn out wellвЂќ (Eccl 11:5-6). At times the author seems quite despondent, yet he also writes things like this: вЂњJust as you do not know how the life breath enters the human frame in the motherвЂ™s womb, So you do not know the work of God, who is working in everything. Nothing is new under the sun!вЂќ (Eccl 1:9). In this book, the вЂњpreacherвЂќ informs the readers that he has examined the world and вЂњAll things are vanity!вЂќ He proclaims in the first chapter: вЂњWhat has been, that will be what has been done, that will be done. The book of Qoheleth, or Ecclesiastes, also does not shy away from critiquing canned answers to difficult questions. His descent into the conversation takes the form of a whirlwind, and that is what the poetry feels like. The poetry of GodвЂ™s speech is breathtaking his descriptions of the crocodile (Leviathan) and the hippopotamus (Behemoth) are fascinating. The final chapters are quite surprising because God answers Job, in a certain sense, but does not allow JobвЂ™s human intelligence to have dominance over the mystery of suffering. The poetry of this book is powerful according to some authors, it is by far the most skillful and elevated poetry in the Bible. The answers given by JobвЂ™s friends, namely, that he is being punished for his sins or that there is some hidden thing he has done to displease God, are proved inadequate again and again as Job verbally spars with his interlocutors. The question behind the book of Job is the enigma of the just man who suffers. This, for example, is clearly the case in the book of Job. In fact, they challenged inadequate understandings of wisdom and insufficient answers to questions about the meaning of suffering, diminishment and death. Book of JobД«esides given sound advice, the biblical authors were not afraid to ask hard questions. For example, вЂњWhere words are many, sin is not wanting but those who restrain their lips do well.вЂќ (Prv 10:19), or: вЂњUnjust anger can never be justified anger pulls a person to utter ruin.вЂќ (Sir 1:22). 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 вЂњWhat is it to be just?вЂќ or вЂњWhat does the just man do?вЂќ 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.

Types of wisdom literature