Proverbs

How it is laid out

1. A father teaches his sonchapters 1–9
2. Proverbs of Solomonchapters 10–29
3. Agur and Lemuel; the woman of worthchapters 30–31

Key verses

• Proverbs 1:7 — The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge
• Proverbs 3:5 — Trust in YHWH with all your heart
• Proverbs 4:23 — More than all that is guarded, guard your heart
• Proverbs 18:22 — Whoever finds a wife finds good
• Proverbs 31:10 — A woman of worth, who can find her?

Who wrote it

The book attributes most of it to Solomon (1:1; 10:1); the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied more of his proverbs (25:1). It also includes words of the wise (22:17; 24:23), of Agur (30:1) and of King Lemuel (31:1).

When it was written

Roughly from the 10th century BC, in Solomon’s time, to around 700 BC, when Hezekiah’s men copied proverbs (25:1).

For whom, and in what situation

For the simple and the young, and also for the wise who want to learn more (1:4-5). Much of the advice goes from a father to his son: “Hear, my son” (1:8).