PROVERBS
Authors:
Solomon wrote most of the proverbs in this book, but others wrote some of them. See Prov 1:1; 22:17; 24:23; 30:1; 31:1. See also 1 Kings 4:32.
Date:
Solomon reigned 970-930 BC, so most and possibly all of these proverbs were written down during that time.
Themes:
Solomon himself gave the reasons why he wrote down his proverbs, and so indicated the themes. See Prov 1:2-6. He wanted people to know how to live in this world, how to behave in the various circumstances they face. In Prov 1:7 he gives a very important theme – the fear of the LORD. Throughout the book there is a vivid contrast between wise people and fools. The wise are those who fear God and follow His ways; fools are those who do not fear God, and follow their own ways. True wisdom results in righteousness; foolishness leads to sin. In fact, we may say that wickedness is foolishness, true righteousness is wisdom.
Contents:
Purposes and themes 1:1-7
Exhortations to avoid evil men 1:8-19
Wisdom calls and warns of disaster 1:20-33
Searching for wisdom and finding it 2:1-8
Some benefits of wisdom 2:9—3:2
How to walk in a wise way 3:3-12
Wisdom is more precious than gold 3:13-18
Further benefits of wisdom 3:21-26
Wise behavior towards others 3:27-32
God’s curse 3:33-35
An exhortation to get the supreme thing 4:1-27
An exhortation to avoid sexual immorality 5:1-23
Warnings against foolishness and laziness 6:1-15
Seven things God hates 6:16-19
More exhortations to avoid sexual immorality 6:20—7:27
Wisdom calls out again 8:1-20
Wisdom is eternal 8:21-31
Life and death 8:32-36
Wisdom gives an invitation 9:1-12
Folly also invites men 9:13-18
Proverbs about various matters 10:1—22:16
about the wise 10:1,8,19; 11:30; 13:1,14; 14:1,16; 15:7,24
about the righteous 10:6,11,20,21,25,28,29-32; 11:19,23,30; 12:21; 13:5,9; 14:32; 15:29; 18:10; 20:7
about fools 10:18,23; 12:15; 13:19; 14:8-9; 15:2,5; 17:10,12; 18:2
about the wicked 10:7,16,32; 11:7,21,23; 12:5,10; 15:8-9; 16:4; 17:23; 21:4,27
Other striking proverbs 11:2,20; 12:1,22,28; 14:2,12,26,27,31,34; 15:4,32; 16:2-3,4,5,8,9,16,18; 17:1,9,22; 18:19,21; 19:3,5,17,21,24; 20:27; 21:1,3,6,30; 22:6,13
Some more proverbs of Solomon 25:1—29:27
Some striking ones 25:21-22,28; 26:11,15,17,27; 27:1,17,20,21; 28:1,13,14; 29:1,5
The sayings of Agur 30:1-33
The sayings of King Lemuel 31:1-9
Description of a wife with noble character 31:10-31