The book of proverbs is a book about helpful advice for living wisely that was written mainly by King Solomon who was acclaimed to be one of the wisest people around in the ancient times.
He addresses many different issues and offers short proverbs that contain wisdom.
Below are the main topics in the book of Proverbs and their principles for wise living.
Seeking Wisdom and Receiving The Benefits
People who seek and find wisdom from God enjoy its benefits throughout life.
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”
People Who Have Wisdom:
- Are loving
- Are faithful
- Trust in the lord
- Put God first
- Turn away from evil
- Know right from wrong
- Listen and learn
- Do what is right
The Benefits of Wisdom:
- Knowledge of God
- Protection
- Success
- Positive reputation
- Health
- Peace
- Longer life
- Better discretion and discernment of what is right and wrong
- Save you from wicked people and ways that lead to death
- Constant learning and understanding
Proverbs discusses the importance of seeking and gaining wisdom, as she will provide and protect everything we receive throughout life.
Wise Learning vs Foolish Failures
Below is a table that contrasts the difference between those who are open and willing to learn vs those who are foolish and are not willing to learn new things.
| Wise Learners | Foolish Failures |
| Accept instruction and criticism | Ignore instruction |
| Love discipline | Hate correction |
| Listen to advice | Think they need no advice |
| Accept parents discipline | Mock parents |
| Lead others to life | Lead others astray |
| Receive honor | End in poverty and shame |
| Profit from constructive rebuke | Self-destruct by refusing rebuke |
Fear of The Lord
The fear of the Lord is the foundation of all wisdom.
This fear refers not to terror but to reverence, awe, and respect for God.
Fear of the lord is:
- Being in awe of and acknowledging God’s power
- Respecting and loving God and his creation
- Humbling yourself in relationship to God
By loving God, others, and his creation we develop a healthy fear of the Lord which drives our lives, work, relationships, and decisions in a more truthful, humble, and enduring capacity.
At the core of a healthy fear of the Lord is an understanding of our place in comparison to God and his powerful and wonderful creation. This means to receive his advice, help, and protection we must be willing to listen and let go of our pride.
If we live in pride and think we know better than God we don’t give him a chance to impact our lives, give us wisdom, or even protect us.
God has immense power to both destroy and deliver people and places in the world and if we acknowledge that and are open to obeying his will we will be better off.
Adultery and Sexual Immorality
Proverbs talks about how adulterous women and men have lips that “drip of honey” and speech that is smoother than oil meaning they sound outstanding and pleasureful but in the end, they leave you bitter, dark, and lead towards the death of the spirit.
A few words of wisdom from proverbs regarding sexual relations include:
- Seductive men and women with the wrong intention can lead you to ruin and spiritual death
- When people sleep with someone else’s partner it creates suffering and problems for everyone involved
- Lusting in our minds, hearts, and eyes is the first step in the chain toward adultery. This doesn’t mean we won’t have temptations and lust-related thoughts and feelings it just means that if we decide to give them attention and interest they will grow.
- Staying away from and rejecting sexual immorality is the best way to overcome the temptation
- We should rejoice and find pleasure in our wife and her body
The Book of Proverbs emphasizes that sexual immorality may appear enticing but ultimately leads to spiritual, emotional, and often physical destruction. It encourages believers to embrace wisdom, self-discipline, and faithfulness to the goodness and love of God as a safeguard in times of temptation.
A few good lines from proverbs on sexual immorality include:
Proverbs 9:13-18: “Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. … But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.”
Proverbs 7:21-23: “With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.”
Money
In proverbs there are a few themes related to wisdom around money.
Hard work, honesty, generosity, contentment, not putting money as your God, and prioritizing your relationship with God above acquiring wealth.
Proverbs emphasizes diligence and warns against laziness as it relates to financial success.
Proverbs 10:4: “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Proverbs 14:23: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Proverbs talks about how money should be gained honestly.
Proverbs 13:11: “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
Proverbs 10:2: “Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.”
It talks about the dangers of greed and loving money for only the sake of getting rich.
Proverbs 23:4-5: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
Proverbs 15:27: “The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”
Proverbs 11:28: “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”
It talks about the importance of generosity and caring for those in need.
Proverbs 19:17: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
Proverbs 11:24-25: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
It talks about how wisdom is more important than acquiring wealth.
Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
Proverbs 15:16: “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.”
It also talks about the fleeting nature of wealth and how we don’t take our money with us when we die as well as being content with what we have and being grateful for our “daily bread”.
The core principle with money in proverbs is that it should be attained through hard work and honestly, it should provide value to the parties involved, and we should use our wealth generously remembering that God is the one who ultimately gives us everything we earn.
Speaking and Words
What we say affects more people than any other action we take. Proverbs talks a lot about words and how they are used.
The first two speech patterns below should be used and the last two should be changed.
- Controlled tongue– Thinking before speaking, knowing when silence is best, giving wise advice
- Caring tongue– Speak truthfully and be honest while seeking to encourage
- Conniving tongue– Filled with wrong motives, gossip, slander, and desire to twist the truth
- Careless tongue– Filled with lies, curses, and quick-tempered words which can lead to rebellion and destruction
The key themes around speaking are how words are powerful and can both harm and heal others, why it’s important to express restraint and be thoughtful about how you speak to others, how honesty is essential, to avoid gossip, and how a persons speech reflects their inner character.
Self-Control and Temperance
The book of Proverbs mentions numerous times qualities related to self-control, temperance, and discipline.
Self control or the ability to regulate yourself and think before speaking or acting is a sign of wisdom and strength while a lack of control leads to chaos and destruction.
That being said it’s important to acknowledge that sometimes in relationships or when coming to God and when in a place where people will not attack or take advantage of you the ability to release control and be honest and vulnerable is also a sign of strength.
Here are a few good lines from the book:
Proverbs 25:28: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”
Proverbs 16:32: “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”
*This line shows that true strength comes from ones ability to control oneself, resist evil, and to choose God’s love over authoritative power.
Proverbs 29:11: “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
*This line shows the importance of determining how to respond to your emotions knowing how it will impact others and if it is helpful in furthering God’s love or just your own selfishness.
Proverbs 17:27: “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
Hard Work and Diligence
Proverbs talks a lot about how hard work, discipline, and diligence will create a firm financial foundation in life where those who possess these qualities will always be secure.
It also contrasts hard work and diligence with those who tend to be lazy and careless in their work and mentions that the lazy and careless will always struggle to make ends meet and have constant hardship throughout life.
Diligence vs Laziness
| The Diligent | The Lazy |
| Become rich | Are soon poor |
| Gather crops early | Sleep during harvest |
| Have abundant food | Chase fantasies |
| Gain many rewards | Lose rewards and opportunities |
| Will rule | Will become slaves |
| Prize their possessions | Waste good resources |
| Are fully satisfied | Want much but get little |
| Bring profit | Experience poverty |
| Have an easy path | Experience trouble all through life |
| Stay awake and have food to spare | Love sleep and grow poor |
| Make careful plans | Make hasty speculations |
| Give without sparing | Desire things but refuse to work for them or have excuses for not working |
| Reap abundance through hard work | Experience poverty because of laziness |
Pride vs Humility
Proverbs is direct and forceful in rejecting pride, which can lead to division, self-importance, destruction and downfall, and a severed relationship with God.
That being said, it’s important to note that pride is not the same as confidence or being proud of yourself for having done something good. The pride it refers to is pride that says, “I know everything,” “I’m better than everyone,” or “I don’t need God or any help as I’m the best.”
| Humility | Pride |
| Leads to wisdom | Leads to disgrace |
| Takes advice | Produces quarrels |
| Leads to honor | Leads to punishment and destruction |
| Ends in honor | Ends in downfall |
| Brings honor | Brings one low |
| Allows one to learn and grow | Doesn’t allow one to learn and grow |
Relationships and Friendships
Proverbs talks about a few key themes in healthy relationships including the value of good friends, choosing friends wisely, loyalty and honesty in relationships, the importance of support, and avoiding harmful relationships.
Below are some key verses with notes on them for each of these topics:
Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
*Friends help us through adversity, encourage us, and make us better people.
Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
*This verse shows the importance of having friends that also seek wisdom from God.
Proverbs 22:24-25: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
*This verse shows how the people we hang around will influence our personality and lifestyle. It is not saying that anger is bad or there isn’t a place for righteous anger, but it is talking about people who are selfish and don’t care about how venting their anger negatively impacts other people.
Proverbs 18:24: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 16:28: “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
*This verse teaches us to avoid friends who gossip and stir up conflict.
Family and Parenting
Proverbs discusses family and parenting wisdom as well with a few of the key themes being healthy discipline, teaching wisdom and fear of the lord, harmony and peace within family, respect for parents, and the joy of family.
Here are a few of the key verses from each of these themes:
Proverbs 22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
*This verse shows how healthy discipline will stick with your kids throughout life and will allow them to have success and health if done in a way that has a foundation of God’s love and wisdom.
Proverbs 17:1: “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.”
*This shows the importance of peace within the family over self-righteousness.
Proverbs 20:20: “If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.”
*This one sounds a bit harsh but it is saying that we need to respect our parents because they gave us life, even if we don’t agree with them or want to be around them. If we have a lack of respect or care for our family it will lead to spiritual dampening.
Lifestyles of Righteousness and Wickedness Compared
| Righteousness | Wickedness | |
| Outlook on life | Hopeful | Fearful |
| Concerned about the welfare of God’s creation | Concerned mainly about their self-preservation | |
| Understand justice | Don’t understand justice | |
| Response to life | Grateful for blessings and praise God and others for them | Aren’t grateful for blessings and consider everything of their own doing |
| Give thought to their ways | Put up a bold front and are close-minded | |
| Persevere against evil | Brought down by calamity and hate integrity | |
| Seek God and the support of others in challenging or new circumstances | Don’t seek God or others in challenging or new circumstances | |
| How they are seen by others | Are appreciated | Are not appreciated |
| Conduct is upright | Conduct is devious | |
| Don’t desire to be like godless people | Desire the company of godless people | |
| Others are glad when they triumph | Others hide when they rise to power | |
| Care for the helpless and needy people | Don’t care for helpless and needy people | |
| Detest the dishonest | Detest the upright | |
| Quality of life | Stand Firm | Swept away |
| Delivered by righteousness | Trapped by evil desires | |
| No real harm befalls them | Constant trouble befalls them | |
| Income results in treasure | Income results in trouble | |
| Are bold as lions | Are fearful constantly | |
| Will be safe | Will suddenly fall | |
| Avoid evil | Fall into trouble | |
| Short-term results | Walk securely | Will be found out |
| Rewarded with prosperity | Pursued by misfortune | |
| Long-term results | God protects them | God destroys them |
| Evil people will bow to them | Will bow to the righteous | |
| Eternal expectations | Never uprooted | Will not remain |
| Earn a sure reward | Earn deceptive wages | |
| Attain life | Go to death | |
| God’s opinion of them | God Delights in Good | God Detests the perverse |
Wisdom vs Foolishness Contrasted
| The Wise | The Foolish |
| Help others with good advice | Lack judgement |
| Enjoy wisdom | Enjoy foolishness |
| Cautious with reason | Gullible |
| Seek knowledge | Feed on foolishness |
| Value wisdom above riches | |
| Receive life | Receive punishment |
| Respond to correction and learn from it | Do not respond or learn from punishment |
| Pursue wisdom | Pursue illusive dreams |
| Trust in wisdom from God | Trust in themselves |
| Control their anger | Unleash their anger |
| Admired as counselors | Beaten as servants |
| Rewarded with knowledge | Inherit folly |
| Keep peace | Stir up anger |
| Stay on straight paths | Go the wrong way |
| Their wisdom conquers other’s strength |
Overall Qualities That Promote Success And A Good Reputation
- Righteousness
- Hating what is false- or seeking truth over your own selfish desires
- Committing all work to the Lord
- Using words with thought and restraint- even-temperedness or equanimity
- Loving wisdom and understanding
- Humility and fear of the Lord
- Willingness to confess and renounce sin
Overall Qualities That Prevent Success And Cause A Bad Reputation
- Wickedness- lying, stealing, cheating, adverse to goodness
- Seeking honor- self-importance above everything else
- Hatred- not loving God or others
- Praising oneself- Magnifying your self-importance
- Concealing sin- not acknowledging or being honest about your darkness
