A Few Thoughts About the Book of Proverbs
Part 1:Introduction
B1 Author
B2 Purpose: to show the contrast between God’s wisdom and human wisdom.
B3 Why read and study? Proverbs 1:2-6 NRSV For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight, 3 for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young— 5 let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill, 6 to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
C1 For learning
D1 Wisdom (thinking God’s way)
D2 Instruction (correction and training)
C2 For understanding words of insight (skills and attitudes that wise men and women have learned)
C3 Gaining instruction
D1 In wise dealing (behavior)
D2 In righteousness (doing the right thing, thinking the right way, in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds in public and private)
D3 In justice (in deciding cases, making the right decisions)
D4 In equity (evenhandedness, impartiality, treating poor and rich, powerless and powerful, etc. the same)
C4 Teaching the simple (naive, unskilled, inexperienced)
D1 Shrewdness (discretion, forethought, caution, sensibleness)
D2 Knowledge (knowing facts, having experience)
D3 Prudence (having a reasonable plan, purpose)
C5 Increasing in those who have wisdom
D1 More wisdom than before (on how to speak to impart understanding)
D2 Greater skills in life (giving direction and wise counsel)
C6 Other translations
D1 Proverbs 1:2-6 NLT Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
D2 Proverbs 1:2-6 GNB Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 3 They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 4 They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 5 These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, 6 so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.
C7 All these proverbs are to be applied to spiritual life as well as daily life and interaction with people.
B4 The most important is the start
C1 Salvation
C2 Not resisting, not refusing to believe, not suppressing, not rejecting truth, God’s truth, which is perfect truth. Truth is reality, not opinion.
C3 The Fear of the Lord: Proverbs 1:7 NKJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
D1 G. Campbell Morgan wrote that there are two kinds of fear:
E1 The fear that God will hurt me; but that is a selfish fear.
E2 The fear that I will hurt Him; a fear founded in love and producing holiness of character and righteousness of conduct. (See Ezekiel 6:9+). (Source)
D2 Personally, I believe there are 2 kinds of fear, too:
E1 Fear of God because of sin: Genesis 3:8 NIV Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
E2 Fear of God because of accountability (for Christians this is the Bema Seat judgment, where we must all give account. It has nothing to do with salvation, hell, heaven, etc. It does deal with rewards).
F1 Judgment Seat (Bema Seat)
G1 Romans 14:10 WEB But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
B2 2 Corinthians 5:10 WEB For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
F2 As Christians, all of our deeds will be tested. This includes private and public, known and unknown, thoughts, desires, words, and deeds: 1 Corinthians 3:12-16 WEB But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. 14 If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. 16 Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
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Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT – Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Part 2: Topics
A few example verses are given in each major category.
B1 Family
C1 Parents
D1 Proverbs 20:7 NLT The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
D2 Proverbs 6:20-22 GNB Son, do what your father tells you and never forget what your mother taught you. 21 Keep their words with you always, locked in your heart. 22 Their teaching will lead you when you travel, protect you at night, and advise you during the day.
C2 Marriage
D1 Premarital
D2 Wedding
D3 Sex
E1 Faithful with spouse
E2 Unfaithful
D4 Relationship
D5 Do’s
D6 Don’ts
D7 Some verses for both husband and wife
E1 Proverbs 18:22 NLT The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.
E2 Proverbs 31:26 NLT When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
E3 Proverbs 14:22 NLT If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.
C3 Children
D1 Teaching
D2 Raising
D3 Education
E1 Belief in God
E2 Basics as reading, etc.
E3 Work
E4 Responsibility
E5 Good character traits
D4 Some verses
E1 Proverbs 20:11 NLT Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
E2 Proverbs 22:6 NLT Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
B2 Finance
C1 Money
D1 Attitude
D2 Poverty
D3 Riches
D4 Debt
C2 Work
C3 Some verses
D1 Proverbs 10:16 NLT The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.
D2 Proverbs 27:23 NLT Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds,
B3 Government
B4 Addictions
C1 Alcohol
C2 Mind altering
B5 Human problems
C1 Anger
C2 Envy
C3 Fools
C4 Happiness
C5 Laziness
C6 Hope
C7 Trials
C8 Truth vs lies
B6 A great resource is Proverbs Topically Arranged. The Topics are listed with a Scripture tooltip for making it easy to read.
Part 3: Special topics
B1 Proverbs 30
B2 Proverbs 31
A Few Thoughts About the Book of Proverbs
Proverbs Summery