The Book of Proverbs
Proverbs is the Bible's book of practical wisdom — short, memorable sayings on how to live well, fear the LORD, guard the tongue, work, and walk in righteousness.
- Testament
- Old (31 chapters)
- Type
- Wisdom
- Date
- Earliest material from the 10th c. BC (Solomon); the book's final form by the late monarchy.
Two paths
Proverbs presents life as a choice between two ways — the way of wisdom (which begins with the fear of the LORD) and the way of folly. The choice is not abstract; it shows up in money, sex, speech, friendships, work, anger.
Practical fear of the LORD
'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom' (9:10) is the book's core principle. Wisdom is not raw IQ; it is the skill of living well, rooted in reverence for God. Proverbs spells out what this looks like in daily decisions.
Key verses (KJV)
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” — Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)
How to read Proverbs
Read one chapter a day for a month — there are 31 chapters, one for each day. Many Christians do this monthly for years and never tire of it. Proverbs 31 (the virtuous woman) is the book's portrait of wisdom embodied.
Read Proverbs on your iPhone
Read the full book of Proverbs in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
Read Proverbs free on iPhone.
Download on the App StorePopular chapters in Proverbs
More Old Testament books
- The Book of Ecclesiastes
- The Book of Song of Solomon
- The Book of Isaiah
- The Book of Jeremiah
- The Book of Lamentations
From the blog
Frequently asked questions
What is the Book of Proverbs about?
Proverbs is a book of Wisdom, running to 31 chapters. Its main threads: Two paths; Practical fear of the LORD.
Who wrote the Book of Proverbs?
Largely Solomon (chapters 1-29), with additions by Agur (30) and Lemuel (31). Compiled over centuries.
Where does Proverbs come in the Bible?
Proverbs is one of the 39 books of the Old Testament in the Protestant canon, grouped with the Wisdom books. You can walk the canon in order using the previous and next links on this page.