The purpose of Proverbs is set down in the opening verses which begin: "The proverbs of Solomon . . . for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." In short, this book of Proverbs sets out to teach how to live a life of wisdom. The bottom line is this: the fear of the Lord is both the beginning and the essence of all true wisdom.
Solomon and the other contributors cover a wide variety of life issues and challenges. Heavily treated topics include a comparison of the wise and the fool, a comparison of the righteous and the wicked, a comparison of the sluggard and the hard worker, the wise use of the tongue, and the family.
