The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

Proverbs

INTRODUCTION

Proverbs is a collection of sayings that examines specific behaviors, asking whether each is wisdom or folly. The book’s pithy observations state general principles that apply to all human beings, not just to believers. Many of the sayings in this book are ascribed to Solomon (970-930 B.C.), while Proverbs 25:1 indicates the collection was not edited and put in its final form prior to the time of Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.). In thought, vocabulary, style, and themes the biblical proverbs are similar to Egyptian and Babylonian wisdom literature dating a millennium before Solomon, and to Phoenician writings from 14th century Ugarit. This not only supports the biblical dating of Proverbs to Solomon’s time, but also suggests that the issues explored in Proverbs reflect a common interest of all peoples for advice on how to live wisely and well. Among the many topics given close attention in this book are wisdom and folly, wealth and poverty, righteousness and wickedness, generosity and stinginess, adultery, laziness, family, child-raising, and friendship. The proverbs themselves however, are not grouped by topic; thoughts on various subjects are scattered in apparently random order throughout the book. Whether we simply read through Proverbs, or use a concordance to group its sayings by theme, we too are helped by the Bible’s ancient words to the wise.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I.	In Praise of Wisdom	Prov. 1–9
II.	Proverbs of Solomon	Prov. 10:1–22:16
III.	Words of Wise Men	Prov. 22:17–24:33
IV.	More Proverbs of Solomon	Prov. 25–29
V.	Words of Agur	Prov. 30
VI.	Words of King Lemuel	Prov. 31:1–9
VII.	Wifely Excellence	Prov. 31:10–31