What is the book of Proverbs about?
Proverbs 1:1-7
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
The book of Proverbs is a collection of God-given wisdom sayings, written chiefly by Solomon, son of David, king of Israel (Proverbs 1:1), to train God's people in living skillfully and morally in his world.
What Proverbs says it is for
The opening verses lay out the book's purpose in six lines:
- To know wisdom and instruction — skill in how life actually works (Proverbs 1:2).
- To discern words of understanding — to read a situation and see what is really going on (Proverbs 1:2).
- To receive instruction in righteousness, justice, and equity — not just cleverness, but moral straightness (Proverbs 1:3).
- To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young — wisdom for those still forming (Proverbs 1:4).
- To grow the wise and give sound counsel to the man of understanding — wisdom stacks on wisdom (Proverbs 1:5).
- To understand a proverb and the riddles of the wise — to learn the language of wisdom itself (Proverbs 1:6).
The foundation verse
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge — every other piece of wisdom sits on the reverent trust of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). Foolishness is not just ignorance; it is despising God's instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
Who wrote it and how it grew
Solomon opens the book (Proverbs 1:1), and Solomon's name again marks the core collection (Proverbs 10:1). Later scribes under King Hezekiah copied out more of Solomon's proverbs and added them (Proverbs 25:1), so the book is a treasury built around Solomon's teaching.
How to read it
Proverbs is mostly short, self-contained sayings — one line, then the next — meant to be read slowly, weighed, and applied to concrete moments (a decision, a temptation, a relationship, a word spoken). The whole book hangs on Proverbs 1:7: if that verse is settled in your heart, every proverb after it has a place to land.
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 7, 2026
The book of Proverbs is Scripture's God-given handbook for living skillfully, morally, and reverently in God's created order. Written primarily by King Solomon and preserved across generations, it anchors all true human discernment, moral justice, and practical everyday decisions in the reverent fear of the Lord.
The Origin and Voice
God Gives Wisdom Through Solomon's Anointed Throne
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
Proverbs 1:1 (NIV)
It introduces the primary author and covenant context of the proverbs, setting Solomon's wisdom under David's royal lineage.
Proverbs 1:1 anchors the entire collection in real covenant history: "The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel." God did not drop anonymous philosophical reflections out of the sky; He channeled divine wisdom through the anointed king He appointed over His covenant people. As 1 Kings 2:12 records, Solomon sat on the royal throne of his father David, establishing the kingdom through God's providence. This fulfilled the direct promise of 1 Chronicles 22:9, which declared that David's son would be a man of rest, endowed with peace and quietness for Israel, and affirmed in 1 Chronicles 28:5 that the Lord explicitly chose Solomon to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
This royal voice echoes later in Ecclesiastes 1:1, where the preacher identifies himself again by his royal lineage in Jerusalem. Yet Solomon's extraordinary insight was not the mere product of human genius or royal education. When summoned to lead God's people, he pleaded in 1 Kings 3:9-12 for an understanding heart to discern between good and evil, and the Lord granted him a wise and discerning mind unmatched by any ruler before or after him. The historical scope of this divine gift is captured in 1 Kings 4:29-34, which records that God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, enabling him to compose three thousand proverbs and a thousand and five songs while drawing listeners from all nations. Proverbs begins precisely here: God's inspired insight given through the anointed son of David to guide everyday life under divine rule.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 1:1 | Names Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, as the author of the proverbs. |
| 1 Kings 2:12 | Records Solomon sitting upon the throne of David his father with his kingdom established greatly. |
| 1 Chronicles 22:9 | Prophesies Solomon's birth, his peaceful reign, and God's rest given to Israel through him. |
| 1 Chronicles 28:5 | Affirms God chose Solomon among many sons to sit on the royal throne of the Lord's kingdom. |
| Ecclesiastes 1:1 | Echoes Solomon's identity as the royal son of David preaching wisdom in Jerusalem. |
| 1 Kings 3:9-12 | God grants Solomon an understanding heart to discern justice, giving him unprecedented wisdom. |
| 1 Kings 4:29-34 | Solomon speaks three thousand proverbs and his songs number a thousand and five. |
The Stated Purpose
The Prologue Lays Out the Goals of Wisdom
for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
Proverbs 1:2 (NIV)
It announces the book's dual aim to impart practical skill for life and discernment of words of understanding.
Proverbs 1:2 immediately lays bare the divine design of the book: "To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight." The book of Proverbs is not an abstract theoretical treatise; it is a divine curriculum designed to shape character, train habits, and cultivate spiritual maturity. In Proverbs 1:3, the text specifies that this instruction produces wise dealing, moral righteousness, genuine justice, and equity. Wisdom (chokhmah) in Scripture is practical moral skill—the ability to navigate God's world in alignment with God's design.
The prologue reveals that this training meets readers at every stage of spiritual development. According to Proverbs 1:4, it imparts shrewd prudence to the simple—the inexperienced and naive who are easily misled—and provides knowledge and discretion to the young before life's consequences harden their patterns. Yet it is not merely remedial reading for the beginner. Proverbs 1:5 declares that the wise man will hear and increase in learning, acquiring the skilled guidance needed to steer a righteous course through complex moral decisions. Finally, Proverbs 1:6 explains that immersion in this school teaches the reader to interpret proverbs, figures, and the deep, enigmatic sayings of the wise. Scripture aims at total transformation, forming a people whose minds and habits reflect the holy order of the Creator.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 1:2 | States the purpose of knowing wisdom, instruction, and discerning insightful speech. |
| Proverbs 1:3 | Outlines instruction in wise dealing, moral righteousness, justice, and straight equity. |
| Proverbs 1:4 | Promises prudence to the inexperienced and knowledge with discretion to the young. |
| Proverbs 1:5 | Invites the wise to increase learning and attain skilled guidance. |
| Proverbs 1:6 | Aims to teach the understanding of proverbs, parables, and enigmatic sayings of the wise. |
The Guiding Principle
Reverence for the Lord Grounds All True Knowledge
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
It establishes the foundational axiom that all genuine knowledge begins with the fear of Yahweh.
Proverbs 1:7 proclaims the supreme theological axiom of the entire book: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." True wisdom does not begin with human autonomous reason, intellectual pride, or worldly experience. It starts with a humble, trembling reverence before the sovereign, holy, and covenant-keeping God. Apart from submission to Yahweh, all supposed knowledge is fundamentally defective, because it ignores the Creator who defines the nature of reality itself. Fools despise correction because their hearts refuse to bow before God's authority.
This cornerstone truth governs every proverb that follows. Later in the foundational discourses, Proverbs 9:10 reiterates this principle as the climactic contrast to folly: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." One cannot possess discernment without knowing the character and holiness of God. This reverent posture inevitably works itself out in personal character; as Proverbs 15:33 summarizes, "The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor." True insight is always ethical and relational. To walk wisely in Proverbs is not to amass clever techniques for earthly success, but to live every moment in conscious, reverent accountability to the living God.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 1:7 | Declares the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, contrasting fools who despise instruction. |
| Proverbs 9:10 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. |
| Proverbs 15:33 | The instruction of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and humility comes before honor. |
The Living Anthology
A Treasury Preserved and Applied for Every Generation
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Proverbs 10:1 (NIV)
It opens the vast central collection of Solomon's practical proverbs dealing with the moral fruit of wise living.
Proverbs 10:1 inaugurates the central core of the book: "The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother." From this point forward, the book unfolds as a rich anthology of short, vivid couplets that bring divine wisdom down to street level—addressing speech, work ethic, sexual purity, honest commerce, family life, anger, and friendship. This treasury was not locked away in a private archive but was carefully gathered and transmitted across Israel's history. Proverbs 25:1 notes that the faithful men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied and preserved a significant collection of Solomon's proverbs centuries after his reign, ensuring God's truth continued to instruct the nation.
Throughout the collection, the inspired text urges total engagement. In Proverbs 22:17, the teacher commands, "Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge," a summons echoed in Proverbs 24:23 as it applies divine justice to courtroom integrity: "These also belong to the wise: Partiality in judging is not good." The anthology broadens further in its concluding chapters: Proverbs 30:1 records the humble, awe-filled confessions of Agur son of Jakeh, while Proverbs 31:1 preserves the royal instruction given to King Lemuel by his mother, leading to the celebrated portrait of the woman who fears the Lord. Together, these inspired collections form an enduring manual for godliness in every era.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 10:1 | Contrasts the gladness a wise son brings his father with the sorrow of a foolish son. |
| Proverbs 25:1 | Notes that additional proverbs of Solomon were transcribed by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah. |
| Proverbs 22:17 | Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, applying your heart to knowledge. |
| Proverbs 24:23 | These also belong to the wise: it is not good to show partiality in judgment. |
| Proverbs 30:1 | The words of Agur son of Jakeh, an oracle containing confessions of humility and divine truth. |
| Proverbs 31:1 | The words of King Lemuel, the oracle that his mother taught him. |
The Call of Wisdom
Wisdom Cries Aloud in the Public Square
“The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
Proverbs 8:22 (NIV)
It shows that divine wisdom is woven into the very fabric of God's creation.
Proverbs 8:22 declares that the Lord possessed wisdom at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of old, revealing that divine wisdom is woven into the very fabric of creation. Wisdom in Proverbs is not a hidden, esoteric mystery reserved for an elite cloister; she is an active, vocal herald entering the bustle of everyday life. In Proverbs 1:20-33, she raises her voice in the city gates and public concourses, pleading with the naive to turn from ruinous complacency and warning that rejecting truth yields devastating calamity. Throughout Proverbs 8:1-21, wisdom stands atop the heights and crossroads, urging passersby to prize her counsel over fine gold, demonstrating that her ways uphold righteous government and moral stability. As Proverbs 8:22-31 unfolds, wisdom is depicted as the architectonic joy of God at creation, present before the mountains were settled and delighting in the sons of men. This grand reality culminates in Proverbs 9:1-6, where wisdom erects her seven-pillared mansion, lays out a rich feast of bread and mingled wine, and issues a universal invitation to the unlearned: abandon foolish independence, step into her banquet, and truly live.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 1:20-33 | Wisdom cries aloud in the street, warning the simple against complacency and destruction. |
| Proverbs 8:1-21 | Wisdom calls from the heights, offering fruit better than gold and leading in paths of righteousness. |
| Proverbs 8:22-31 | Wisdom rejoices as God's master craftsman before the creation of the earth. |
| Proverbs 9:1-6 | Wisdom builds her house, prepares her banquet, and invites the simple to leave foolishness and live. |
The Two Women
Purity Protects the Soul from Death
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
Proverbs 5:18-19 (NIV)
It exalts covenant marriage and holy passion against the counterfeit trap of adultery.
Proverbs 5:18-19 anchors human sexuality within God's good design, urging a husband to rejoice in the wife of his youth, affirming that holy marital fidelity is the true fortress against lethal temptation. Proverbs contrasts the life-giving way of wisdom with the seductive counterfeits of sin through the portrait of two women: Lady Wisdom and the adulteress. In Proverbs 2:1-22, parental wisdom is offered as a shield to deliver a young man from perverse companions and from the seductress who forgets her covenant vows. The father in Proverbs 5:1-23 warns that while the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, her end is as bitter as wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword. This instruction intensifies in Proverbs 6:20-35, where the father commands obedience to parental instruction to guard against the flattery of the wayward, warning that taking fire to one's chest inevitably burns the flesh. Proverbs 7:1-27 depicts the tragedy in vivid detail: a senseless youth seduced through twilight shadows, led like an ox to the slaughter down paths toward Sheol. Finally, Proverbs 9:13-18 exposes the foolish woman sitting boastfully at her door, promising stolen waters while concealing that her guests lie in the dark depths of the grave.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 2:1-22 | Seeking wisdom delivers from the path of evil men and the seductive strange woman. |
| Proverbs 5:1-23 | A father warns against the alluring adulteress, commanding marital fidelity and rejoicing in one's wife. |
| Proverbs 6:20-35 | A father's commandment protects from the flattering tongue of an immoral woman and violent ruin. |
| Proverbs 7:1-27 | The detailed seduction of a youth by a wayward woman, leading straight to Sheol. |
| Proverbs 9:13-18 | The foolish woman sits at the door calling those who pass by into the depths of death. |
Trust and Sovereignty
God Sovereignly Directs the Humble and Faithful
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
It provides the central posture of faith: leaning wholly upon God rather than human understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 supplies the bedrock posture of the faithful disciple: trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, promising that total reliance on God results in straight and directed paths. Human life is not an autonomous exercise in self-determination; it is lived under the pervasive, sovereign rule of the Creator. Because the inner life governs external conduct, Proverbs 4:23 commands the believer to guard the heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. When that heart rests in God's promises, human effort aligns with divine purpose, as Proverbs 16:3 promises that committing one's works to the Lord causes plans to be firmly established. Human foresight has genuine limits, yet God's purpose remains absolute: Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while a man's heart plans his course, the Lord sovereignly determines his steps. Even the most exalted earthly authorities answer to this supreme jurisdiction; as Proverbs 21:1 asserts, the king's heart is a watercourse in the hand of the Lord, directed by His will wherever He pleases.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and He will make straight your paths. |
| Proverbs 4:23 | Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. |
| Proverbs 16:3 | Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. |
| Proverbs 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. |
| Proverbs 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will. |
Diligence and Wealth
Honest Labor and Generosity Honor God
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 14:31 (NIV)
It links our practical economic treatment of the poor directly to our reverence for God.
Proverbs 14:31 issues a profound moral reality by declaring that whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker, showing that economic dealings are an immediate barometer of one's reverence for God. The book provides practical counsel on labor, stewardship, and societal justice. In Proverbs 6:6-11, the sluggard is directed to observe the tiny ant, learning the necessity of unforced initiative and harvest preparation before poverty strikes like an armed bandit. Proverbs 10:4 underscores that a slack hand produces lack, while the hand of the diligent yields genuine prosperity. Yet Proverbs never equates wealth with ruthless greed; business ethics are under God's scrutiny, as Proverbs 11:1 warns that a deceptive balance is an abomination to the Lord, while an honest weight brings Him delight. The foundational principle governing all human dignity and social duty appears in Proverbs 22:2: the rich and the poor share common ground because the Lord is the Maker of them all.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 6:6-11 | Go to the ant, sluggard, and learn diligent preparation before poverty arrives like an armed man. |
| Proverbs 10:4 | A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. |
| Proverbs 11:1 | A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight. |
| Proverbs 14:31 | Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him. |
| Proverbs 22:2 | The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. |
Words and Relationships
The Power of Life and Death in Speech
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
It defines speech as a decisive moral power bearing mortal or life-giving consequences.
In Proverbs 18:21, the text lays bare the lethal and life-giving reality of speech: death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Solomon does not treat communication as mere neutral exchange, but as an active moral force that inevitably yields a harvest of blessing or devastation. Speech is an instrument of immense spiritual gravity, shaping communities, homes, and individual souls according to what proceeds out of the heart.
This principle unfolds across practical daily interactions throughout the collection. In Proverbs 12:18, Scripture warns that rash words pierce like sword thrusts, tearing down relationships with unconsidered cruelty, while the disciplined tongue of the wise ministers real spiritual and emotional healing. When conflict ignites, Proverbs 15:1 counsels restraint, showing that a soft answer turns away wrath, disarming fierce hostility where harsh retaliatory rhetoric only pours fuel on burning fury. Finally, Proverbs 25:11 celebrates the beauty and precision of godly speech, declaring that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver, providing exquisite, timely wisdom that brings honor and life to everyone who hears it.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 12:18 | There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. |
| Proverbs 15:1 | A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. |
| Proverbs 18:21 | Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. |
| Proverbs 25:11 | A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. |
The Noble Woman
The Living Embodiment of Godly Wisdom
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
It concludes the book by defining true virtue not by outward charm, but by the fear of the Lord.
The book of Proverbs draws to its grand crescendo in Proverbs 31:30, declaring that charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. This culminating tribute refuses to anchor true human excellence in transient outward appearances or fleeting societal admiration. Instead, it roots all enduring dignity, honor, and virtue squarely in the reverent fear of God, demonstrating that true wisdom is not merely an intellectual abstraction, but a life fully transformed and lived under God's sovereign gaze.
Across Proverbs 31:10-31, this noble woman stands as the living portrait of Lady Wisdom incarnate in daily flesh and blood. An acrostic hymn of towering praise, the passage details her diligent labor, entrepreneurial foresight, generous care for the impoverished, and unfailing domestic stewardship. She speaks with kindness, governs her household with vigilant wisdom, and is publicly honored at the city gates by her husband and children. In this final chapter, Proverbs demonstrates what its opening chapter promised: that when a human life is completely surrendered to the fear of the Lord, wisdom flourishes into strength, fruitful industry, moral integrity, and everlasting joy.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 31:10-31 | The woman who fears the Lord displays strength, industry, wisdom, and kindness, praised at the gates. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| 1 Kings | 3 · 1 Kings 2:12, 1 Kings 3:9-12, 1 Kings 4:29-34 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2 · 1 Chronicles 22:9, 1 Chronicles 28:5 |
| Proverbs | 39 · Proverbs 1:1, Proverbs 1:2, Proverbs 1:3, Proverbs 1:4, Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 1:6, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 10:1, Proverbs 25:1, Proverbs 22:17, Proverbs 24:23, Proverbs 30:1, Proverbs 31:1, Proverbs 1:20-33, Proverbs 8:1-21, Proverbs 8:22-31, Proverbs 9:1-6, Proverbs 2:1-22, Proverbs 5:1-23, Proverbs 6:20-35, Proverbs 7:1-27, Proverbs 9:13-18, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 21:1, Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 11:1, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 22:2, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 31:10-31 |
| Ecclesiastes | 1 · Ecclesiastes 1:1 |
The story in order
- Solomon's wisdom granted by God (c. 970 BC) · 1 Kings 3:9-12 · God gives Solomon an understanding heart to discern justice.
- Solomon writes many proverbs (c. 970 BC) · 1 Kings 4:29-34 · Solomon speaks three thousand proverbs and his songs number a thousand and five.
- Proverbs' purpose: prudence and knowledge (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 1:4 · Promises prudence to the inexperienced and knowledge with discretion to the young.
- Fear of the Lord is the start (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 1:7 · Declares the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.
- Wisdom calls in the public square (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 1:20-33 · Wisdom cries aloud, warning the simple against destruction.
- Wisdom as God's master craftsman (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 8:22-31 · Wisdom rejoices before the creation of the earth.
- Warning against the strange woman (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 5:1-23 · A father warns against the adulteress and commands marital fidelity.
- Trust in the Lord's direction (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 3:5-6 · Trust in the Lord; He will make straight your paths.
- Diligence versus laziness (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 6:6-11 · Go to the ant, sluggard, and learn preparation.
- Power of words for life and death (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 18:21 · Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
- Hezekiah's men transcribe proverbs (c. 700 BC) · Proverbs 25:1 · Additional proverbs of Solomon were transcribed by men of King Hezekiah.
- The noble woman praised (c. 970 BC) · Proverbs 31:10-31 · The woman who fears the Lord is praised for her strength and kindness.
The Two Ways: Wisdom vs. Folly
| Wisdom's Path | Folly's Path | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. | Fools despise instruction and wisdom. | Proverbs 1:7 |
| Wisdom cries aloud in the street, offering life. | The foolish woman sits at her door calling to death. | |
| Seeking wisdom delivers from evil. | Seeking evil leads to destruction. | Proverbs 2:12 |
| Wisdom leads in paths of righteousness. | The path of the wicked is like deep darkness. | |
| Wisdom builds her house, prepares a banquet, invites to life. | The adulteress invites to death. |
The Fear of the Lord: Foundation of Knowledge
| Fear of the Lord | Resulting Knowledge/Understanding | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge. | Fools despise instruction. | Proverbs 1:7 |
| The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. | Knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. | Proverbs 9:10 |
| The instruction of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. | Humility comes before honor. | Proverbs 15:33 |
| The fear of the Lord leads to a full life. | It keeps one from the snares of death. | Proverbs 14:26-27 |
The Power of Words
| Wise Words | Foolish/Rash Words | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| The tongue of the wise brings healing. | Rash words are like sword thrusts. | Proverbs 12:18 |
| A soft answer turns away wrath. | A harsh word stirs up anger. | Proverbs 15:1 |
| A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in silver. | The mouth of the foolish is ruin. | |
| Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives. | Those who open them wide will have destruction. | Proverbs 13:3 |
Key words
- Wisdom (ḥokmâ, חָכְמָה)
- Skillful and discerning living grounded in the fear of the Lord. · Proverbs 1:2
- Fear of the Lord (yir'âṯ YHWH, יִרְאַת יְהוָה)
- Reverence and awe of God, acknowledging His sovereignty and commands. · Proverbs 1:7
- Instruction (mûsār, מוּסָר)
- Discipline, correction, and teaching that guides toward a righteous life. · Proverbs 1:2
- Discernment (bînâ, בִּינָה)
- Insight and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, wise and foolish. · Proverbs 1:2
- Righteousness (ṣedeq, צֶדֶק)
- Moral uprightness and conformity to God's law and character. · Proverbs 1:3
- Folly ('ewîl, אֱוִיל)
- Rejection of wisdom and instruction, leading to destructive behavior. · Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs is not a collection of detached cultural maxims, but the voice of God training His people to navigate reality in righteousness and peace. When received with a heart yielded to the Lord, its sayings steady our steps, sharpen our discernment, and guard our souls in every calling of daily life.
45 passages, each cited once.
Scripture cited
- Proverbs 10:1
- Proverbs 25:1