Old Testament
Proverbs
About the book of Proverbs
Proverbs is a book of short sayings that teach wisdom for daily life: how to speak, work, handle money, raise children and choose friends. Its theme is that reverence for our Father is where wisdom begins.
Book at a glance
- Chapters 1-9: A father's appeal to seek wisdom
- Chapters 10-22: Proverbs of Solomon
- Chapters 22-24: Sayings of the wise
- Chapters 25-29: Proverbs copied by Hezekiah's men
- Chapters 30-31: Agur and Lemuel; the woman of strength
Key verses
Trust in our Father with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
- Proverbs 1
- Proverbs 2
- Proverbs 3
- Proverbs 4
- Proverbs 5
- Proverbs 6
- Proverbs 7
- Proverbs 8
- Proverbs 9
- Proverbs 10
- Proverbs 11
- Proverbs 12
- Proverbs 13
- Proverbs 14
- Proverbs 15
- Proverbs 16
- Proverbs 17
- Proverbs 18
- Proverbs 19
- Proverbs 20
- Proverbs 21
- Proverbs 22
- Proverbs 23
- Proverbs 24
- Proverbs 25
- Proverbs 26
- Proverbs 27
- Proverbs 28
- Proverbs 29
- Proverbs 30
- Proverbs 31
Questions about Proverbs
- Who wrote the book of Proverbs?
- Solomon is named as the main author in chapters 1, 10 and 25. Chapter 30 is credited to Agur, chapter 31 to King Lemuel, and chapters 22 to 24 to "the wise".
- When was Proverbs written?
- Most of the sayings come from Solomon's reign, around the tenth century BC. Chapter 25 says that men of King Hezekiah later copied out more of his proverbs, so the book reached its final form generations afterward.
- What is the book of Proverbs about?
- Chapters 1 to 9 are a father's appeal to his son to seek wisdom; chapters 10 to 29 are collected sayings; chapters 30 and 31 close with Agur's words and the portrait of a woman of strength. It reads best a little at a time, one chapter a day, since there are 31.
- How many chapters are in Proverbs?
- Proverbs has 31 chapters. Each one can be read free in the Father's Heart Bible with audio.
- What is a key verse in Proverbs?
- Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in our Father with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight."