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Old Testament · Wisdom · Book 20 of 66

Proverbs

Practical wisdom for daily life: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

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31 Chapters

Proverbs 1–31

Author

Solomon and Others

Written

c. 970 – 700 B.C.

Written For

Those Seeking Wisdom

Summary
Title
Author
Date
Outline
Instruction
Solomon
The Wise
Hezekiah
Noble Wife
Overview

Proverbs Summary

Proverbs is a collection of short, practical sayings about how to live wisely in the sight of God. Its theme is stated near the beginning and again in chapter 9: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (1:7; 9:10). In the Bible, wisdom is not mere intelligence. It is skill in living, shaped by reverence for God.

The first nine chapters are mostly longer instructions from a father to his son, urging him to seek wisdom and avoid folly. Wisdom is shown as a woman calling out in the streets (1:20–33; 8:1–36), in contrast to Folly (9:13–18). Chapters 10–29 are mostly individual sayings on many subjects, including words and speech, work and laziness, money, pride and humility, anger, friendship, family, justice and the way of the righteous and the wicked. The book closes with the words of Agur (chapter 30) and Lemuel, and a poem on the wife of noble character (31:10–31).

Proverbs describes how life generally works rather than giving a promise for every case. Other books of the Bible, such as Job and Ecclesiastes, also deal with wisdom, and Proverbs is best read together with them.

About the Name

Title

The Hebrew title is Mishlei, “Proverbs of” (from 1:1, “The proverbs of Solomon”). The Hebrew word mashal can mean a proverb, a saying, a comparison or a short instruction. The Greek Old Testament calls the book Paroimiai, which also means “proverbs.”

The book is part of the Wisdom literature of the Bible, together with Job, Ecclesiastes and, in many lists, Psalms and the Song of Songs.

Who Wrote It

Author Details

Proverbs names several contributors. Solomon is named at the start of the book and of two major sections (1:1; 10:1; 25:1), and 1 Kings 4:32 says he spoke 3,000 proverbs. The book also credits “the wise” (22:17; 24:23), Agur (30:1) and King Lemuel (31:1), and says that the men of King Hezekiah copied some of Solomon’s proverbs (25:1).

The person who gathered the book into its final form is not named. Some scholars think parts were written or edited later than Solomon, and this page follows the traditional view that Solomon is the main author.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

Solomon reigned over Israel from about 970 to 930 B.C., so the earliest material may come from about the 10th century B.C. The collection in chapters 25–29 was copied in the time of King Hezekiah, who reigned about 715–686 B.C. The words of Agur and Lemuel and the final compilation may come later, so this page gives a range of roughly 970–700 B.C. or somewhat later.

The book does not say where it was written. It is addressed to those who seek wisdom, especially the young (1:4).

Study Guide

Proverbs Outline

31 chapters in six parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

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Part I

A Father’s Appeal for Wisdom

1:1–9:18 · Purpose, instruction, and the call of Wisdom

Read this passage · 1:1–7

Read this passage · 1:8–19

Read this passage · 1:20–33

Read this passage · 2:1–22

Read this passage · 3:1–12

  1. Wisdom’s blessings · 3:13–18
  2. Wisdom and creation; confidence and security · 3:19–26
  3. Dealing with neighbors · 3:27–35
  1. A father’s instruction · 4:1–9
  2. Two paths · 4:10–19
  3. Guard your heart · 4:20–27

Read this passage · 5:1–23

  1. Guaranteeing a neighbor’s debt · 6:1–5
  2. Lessons from the ant · 6:6–11
  3. The troublemaker · 6:12–15
  4. Seven things the Lord hates · 6:16–19

Read this passage · 6:20–35

Read this passage · 7:1–27

  1. Wisdom calls out · 8:1–21
  2. Wisdom at creation · 8:22–31
  3. The call to listen · 8:32–36
  1. The invitation of Wisdom · 9:1–12
  2. The invitation of Folly · 9:13–18
Part III

Sayings of the Wise

22:17–24:34 · Thirty sayings and further sayings

  1. Introduction: listen to the sayings of the wise · 22:17–21
  2. Sayings about the poor, anger and debt · 22:22–29
  3. Sayings about rulers, wealth, discipline and the tongue · 23:1–35
  4. Sayings on envy, strength and fearing the Lord · 24:1–22
  1. Impartiality in judging · 24:23–26
  2. Prepare your work; the field of the sluggard · 24:27–34
Part IV

More Proverbs of Solomon

25:1–29:27 · Copied by the men of Hezekiah

Read this passage · 25:1–28

  1. Fools · 26:1–12
  2. The sluggard · 26:13–16
  3. Gossip, quarrels and deceit · 26:17–28

Read this passage · 27:1–27

Read this passage · 28:1–28

Read this passage · 29:1–27

Part V

The Words of Agur

30:1–33 · Humility and numerical sayings

Read this passage · 30:1–6

Read this passage · 30:7–9

Read this passage · 30:10–33

Part VI

The Words of Lemuel

31:1–31 · A king’s duty and the wife of noble character

Read this passage · 31:1–9

  1. Her worth and her husband’s trust · 31:10–12
  2. Her work and care for her household · 31:13–27
  3. Her praise · 31:28–31

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