PROVERBS

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PROVERBS

• The Book of Wisdom

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POETICAL BOOKS
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Title of the book

• The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of
  Israel (Proverbs 11).

From the root word
lvm'
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Proverbs 12-4

• 2 To know wisdom and instruction,
• To discern the sayings of understanding,
• 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior,
• Righteousness, justice and equity
• 4 To give prudence to the naive,
• To the youth knowledge and discretion,

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Proverbs 15-6

• 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
• And a man of understanding will acquire wise
  counsel,
• 6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
• The words of the wise and their riddles.

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Exodus 282-3

• 2 "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron
  your brother, for glory and for beauty.
• 3 "And you shall speak to all the skillful
  persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of
  wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to
  consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to
  Me.

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Proverbs 17

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
  knowledge
• Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

• A Fear that Drives Away

• A Fear that brings Wonder

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Outline of Proverbs
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Themes in the Proverbs

• The way of Wisdom

15 Avoid it, do not pass by it Turn away from
it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless
they do evil And they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble. (Proverbs
415-16).
13 Take hold of instruction do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter
the path of the wicked, And do not proceed in
the way of evil men. (Proverbs 413-14).
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And
drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of
the righteous is like the light of dawn, That
shines brighter and brighter until the full
day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness
They do not know over what they stumble.
(Proverbs 417-19).
20 My son, give attention to my words Incline
your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart
from your sight Keep them in the midst of your
heart. (Proverbs 420-21).
22 For they are life to those who find them, And
health to all their whole body. 23 Watch over
your heart with all diligence, For from it flow
the springs of life. (Proverbs 422-23).
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom I
have led you in upright paths. 12 When you walk,
your steps will not be impeded And if you run,
you will not stumble. (Proverbs 411-12).
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Themes in the Proverbs

• The way of Wisdom

• Principles of Work

He who gathers in summer is a son who acts
wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son
who acts shamefully. (Proverbs 105).
2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But
righteousness delivers from death. 3 The LORD
will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He
will thrust aside the craving of the wicked. 4
Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But
the hand of the diligent makes rich. (Proverbs
102-4).
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send
him.(Proverbs 1026).
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will
stand before kings He will not stand before
obscure men. (Proverbs 1026).
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Themes in the Proverbs

• The way of Wisdom
• Principles of Work

• Skilled work will lead to success
• Diligent work will lead to success

Go to the ant, O sluggard Observe her ways and be
wise, Which, having no chief, Officer, or
ruler Prepares her food in the summer, And
gathers her provisions in the harvest. (Proverbs
1519)
The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a
highway. (Proverbs 1519)
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Themes in the Proverbs

• The way of Wisdom
• Principles of Work

• Principles of Business and Finance

He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the
righteous will flourish like the green
leaf. (Proverbs 327-28).
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is
due, When it is in your power to do it. 28 Do
not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it
with you. (Proverbs 327-28).
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Themes in the Proverbs

• The way of Wisdom
• Principles of Work
• Principles of Business and Finance

• Principles of Spiritual Speech

For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where
there is no whisperer, contention quiets
down. (Proverbs 2620).
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Proverbs 2210-14

• 10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go
  out,
• Even strife and dishonor will cease.
• 11 He who loves purity of heart
• And whose speech is gracious, the king is his
  friend.
• 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
• But He overthrows the words of the treacherous
  man.
• 13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside
• I shall be slain in the streets!"
• 14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit
• He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it.

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Proverbs 131-3

• 1 A wise son accepts his father's discipline,
• But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
• 2 From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good,
  
• But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
• 3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his
  life
• The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

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The Excellent WifeProverbs 3110-31

• She conducts her affairs in such a way as to
  instill trust on the part of her husband (3111)
• She is both hard-working and efficient
• She is not afraid to engage in business
• Praise is given both to her husband as well as to
  her

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Lessons from the Proverbs

• The Universal need for Wisdom
• The Universal Arena of Wisdom
• What is Wise is also what is Good
• Principles rather than Promises
• A real view of the real world
• Christians are called to be street-smart

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