Proverbs

Too many to mention, but here are a few of the best:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1.7)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. (Proverbs 3.5)

²²The LORD created me [wisdom] at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. ²³Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth… ³⁰then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, ³¹ rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race. (Proverbs 8.22–23, 30–31)

There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14.12)

Proverbs is one of the few books of the Bible not really designed to be read in one go. It is better savoured over a long period of time, saying by saying. Some proverbs featuring women aren't the sort of thing we might say today.

Proverbs is traditionally associated with Solomon and there is no doubt that some of these proverbs originated with him or his court, but it seems likely that the book grew over time, accumulating wisdom from many different sources.

What do we know about him?

King Solomon was David’s successor and widely renowned for his great wisdom.

Solomon was king between about 961 and 922 BC, but the book of the Proverbs seems to have accumulated a wide range of wisdom from around Israel until it reached its final form perhaps in the sixth century BC or even later than that.

Other books set around this time

1 and 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles

Wisdom literature – most of its contents reveal wisdom for everyday life.

1.1–9.18 Essays on how to live a life shaped by wisdom
10.1–22.16 Proverbs associated with Solomon
22.17–24.34 A collection of wise sayings
25.1–29.27 Proverbs said to be by Solomon, copied during the time of Hezekiah
30.1–33 Wise sayings by Agur
31.1–31 Wise sayings by King Lemuel, including an ABC of what makes a capable wife

There will be several names you will not know; don’t worry if you can’t place them all. The key ones are given below.

Place

Judah

The names of people and peoples

Agur, King Lemuel, Hezekiah

Other words

Sheol, Wisdom tradition

Throughout Proverbs, but especially in chapters 1–9, you find an extended definition of what wisdom is – look out for the definition and see what it suggests to you.

This wisdom offers everyday advice to people from all sorts of backgrounds. As you read, see if you can work out who, in particular, would find the advice most relevant.

Proverbs use a lot of similes (this is like that); look out for them and see if you can find a favourite one.

We need wise advice today as much as the people of Solomon’s day did. As you read, ask yourself which of this advice applies most easily to our lives today. How might we communicate this ancient wisdom most effectively in our own time?

• Were there any parts of the book that you particularly liked or that inspired you?
• Were there any parts of the book that you disliked or that troubled you?
• What did you think the book was about?
• ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ – what do you think this means? How might you put it into modern language?
• Proverbs offers a few definitions of wisdom. How would you define ‘wisdom’ today? Is what was wise in Solomon’s day still wise now?
• Discuss ‘the capable wife’ of Proverbs 31.10–31. What did you think about what is said?
• Did you read anything in the book that touched you, expanded your faith or made you think more deeply about your life and how you live it?