Apart from two chapters at the end of the book, the Proverbs were all written by king Solomon who also wrote the next two books, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. He was a remarkable person who God gave extraordinary wisdom and a tender heart.

What are proverbs?
Proverbs, we read in chapter 1v2, are for “learning about wisdom and instruction…” Wonderful divine wisdom is taught us using, easy to remember, short sayings, often only a sentence long.

If the Psalms are for a Christian’s devotions, the Proverbs are for his activities, his business plans, his home life and his leisure pursuits. The wisdom spoken of here is, timelessly, practical. The first thing we can say about this wisdom is that it doesn’t just happen, you have to desire it (1v1-6). The young and simple need it, of course, but it is the wise who love to learn (v5).

Where does wisdom come from? In chapter 3 verse 19 we read that the Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth; so wisdom comes straight out of the mind and heart of God. In chapter 1 v 7 we see that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and those with no desire for wisdom are called “fools”. To listen to parents is a good start for a child (v 8,9) because parents have a responsibility, before God, to pass on the wisdom they have learnt. Without knowledge of true wisdom, the child is vulnerable to sinful peer pressure (v10) and may take the wrong path which leads, eventually, to ruin or even death (v19).

Listen to God’s wisdom
Being “simple” is not really the problem because that is where most of us start; the problem is when we love being simple (v22) for then we are a “fool”, who hates knowledge. Even worse still, is being a “scoffer”, for the scoffer is arrogant in his simpleness. No-one has  any excuse because wisdom is calling out to people all the time (v20); in fact is crying out and wanting to “pour out” thoughts and words to you (v23). There are consequences if we do not listen for, then, we will stand alone when calamity hits us (v26) and we will eat the fruit of our wrong way (v31). On the other hand, if we listen to wisdom then there is security and no need to fear disaster (v33).  So the best attitude to have is this, accept God’s words, treasure his commandments, make your ear attentive, cry out for insight, seek it and search for it (2v1-5). If the desire is there, you will be given wisdom by the Lord (v6), you will know the good path to take (v9) and wisdom will come into your heart (v10). You will be saved from the paths of darkness, the crooked paths that lead to spiritual death.

Trust in the Lord
Chapter 3 is one of the great chapters of the Bible and includes those encouraging words (v5,6) “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths”.  We should be loyal and faithful to God (v3), honour him with our substance (v9) and understand that he disciplines those he loves (v12). This is the way of abundant life (v2), favour and good repute (v4), healing and refreshing (v8), plentiful harvest (v10), pleasantness and peace (v17). It is a life of doing good to others (v27), not harming them (v29), and we put ourselves in a place to receive God’s blessing (v33). In Chapter 10v 22 we read that the “blessing of the Lord brings wealth and he adds no trouble to it”. So, in short, God wants us to be righteous and not wicked (v33) humble and not scorners (v34), wise and not fools (v35).

If we go God’s way, then our lives will shine brighter and brighter (4v18) but we need to keep our heart with all vigilance (v23) “for from it flow the springs of life” and we must not “swerve to the right or to the left” (v27). These encouragements are repeated time and again through the chapters of Proverbs and we are introduced to many practical applications of this wisdom.
If we fill our minds, hearts and lives with this wisdom we will live a blessed life. Nothing is better than reading them, yourself, to find their life-changing truth but here are some of the main themes you can find:

Sexual faithfulness
We are encouraged to be faithful to our wife (5v18), avoid the loose woman, the adulteress, and  “drink water from our own cistern” (5v15). God wants us to realise the dangers of misplaced sexuality and the theme continues throughout the book. In chapter 7 we read about how one of the “simple” ones passes along the street near her corner, falls foul of her seductions, and sadly, “not knowing that it  will cost him his life” (v23).
Another very frequent theme is that finding a prudent wife is from the Lord (19v14) and the book ends in chapter 31 with a very famous passage about the “capable wife” who  “is more precious than jewels (v10).
We all smile at the famous passages which warn about the contentious wife, whose quarrellings are like a dripping rain (19v13), and it is better to sleep on the rooftop (21v9) or in the desert (21v19).

Laziness
It is not godly to be lazy and we are encouraged to “go the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways; and be wise” (6v6). It is so easy to enjoy a little sleep and soon find ourselves in poverty (v10,11).

Kindness to the poor
We are told that if we are kind to the poor we lend to the Lord (19v17) and will be repaid in full.  God is not impressed by the person who makes wealth by exploiting the poor or giving to the rich (22v16). Those who are generous will be blessed (22v9) (11v25).

Honour and listen to parents
When we are a child we are a child in understanding and wisdom, a “simple “ person. It is the duty of parents to pass on God’s teachings and it is the wise child who listens to them (6v20-23). In fact it is dangerous not to.
One aspect of this is that parents should be willing to discipline their children (19v18) because, otherwise, they could grow into fools. We need to train them in the right way and when they are old they will not turn from it (22v6).
Also there are warnings against sowing discord in the family (6v19) or straying far from home, the place of our security (27v8).

Do not love pleasure and drink too much
Sometimes wine goes down too smoothly (23v31) (20v1) and whoever is led astray is not wise and we can also be gluttons who love feasting too much (21v17).  It is dangerous to even taste the kings rich food, in case we get an appetite for it (23v1-3).
Be careful about who we mix with (23v19-21).

The danger of the tongue
We spend much of our lives talking and Proverbs has more advice on the tongue than any other subject.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue (18v21). Firstly, we should avoid a lying or slandering tongue (10v18), instead our answers should be honest (24v26). We should think before a hasty answer (29v20) for he who hold his tongue is wise (10v19). “Whisperers” are particularly condemned (26v22); a whisperer is a gossip or backbiter who passes on juicy bad information about others and gives away secrets (20v19). We can also be flatterers (29v5) or we can belittle others (11v12). Don’t be hasty in speaking (15v28), rather think before you speak because a fools lips bring strife(18v6). There is also positive way of speaking which is pleasant (16v24), gives words in season (25v11) and uses a soft answer to turn away wrath (15v1). Anxiety weighs down the human heart but a good word cheers it up (12v25). Do not give an answer before you (18v13) have even heard what the other person is saying. Another danger is to make vows carelessly (20v25). Do not boast about tomorrow (27v1).  On the other hand it is a good use of words to expose, confess and renounce our sins (28v13).

Oppression of the poor and innocent
Hurting or abusing the poor or innocent is harshly condemned (14v31) and whoever is kind to the poor honours God.

Be slow and not quick to anger
Just like we should try to turn away wrath by a soft answer (15v1), we ourselves should be slow to anger (15v18). It is the hot-tempered man who stirs up strife (15v18). Instead, we should try to end quarrels quickly and not repay evil with evil (20v22), forgiving and overlooking offences (17v9). We should not be not be litigious (25v8-10) and, sometimes, casting lots can solve disputes (18v18). We should, certainly, not meddle in other peoples quarrels (26v17) or make friends with those given to anger (22v24,25).

Warning against pledges and guarantees
When someone asks you to guarantee something for them there are at least 10 verses in Proverbs warning you not to (eg 22v26).

Proud and haughty spirit
A Christian should be humble and not proud (18v12) and Proverbs reserves special condemnation for the arrogant “scoffers” who we should drive out (22v10). Don’t boast and push yourself forward but let others praise and promote you (25v6,7). Pride goes before destruction (16v18). One warning, though, a person is tested by being praised (27v21) because the way you respond to praise indicates the state of your heart. Do not boast about tomorrow (27v1). A wise person listens to reproofs while the fool carries on regardless (17v10).

Faithful not lying witness
It is very important to be a good witness and not a false witness (6v19), impartial in our testimonies (18v5) and in our judgements (24v23). We should be faithful messengers not bad envoys because we are trustworthy (13v17).  We should hate bribes which divert us from the truth (15v27).

Making plans
Before making important decisions it is good to take wise counsel (15v22) but make sure we are planners for good; Proverbs exposes those who plan for evil (15v26). In our planning we should be cautious (14v16), not careless, and commit all our plans to the Lord (16v3).

Giving not coveting and jealousy
The world covets, and always wants more, whereas, the godly person is more concerned about giving (21v25,26) and helping others when they are in trouble (24v10-12). Jealousy is a very dangerous emotion and who can stand before it (27v4). Gifts to others can open doors and break down barriers (18v16).

Friendships
A friend loves at all times (17v17) and shares ours troubles.

Business advice
There are dangers to getting wealth quickly and so try to increase it little by little (13v11); another reason why the lottery therefore is dangerous. Make use of oxen to help you (14v4) on your farm; the modern equivalent is making good use of machines and technology. Check the condition of your flocks (27v23). Make an honest living without being greedy (28v25); worse still greedy for unjust gain (15v27); gaining things by robbery, deceit (20v17) or oppression of the poor (22v16). We should have honest but not false balances (11v1). Do not wear yourself out to be rich (23v4) and better to be neither very poor or very rich (30v8). There is a warning, here, against borrowing money because a borrower is slave to the lender (22v7). We should not trust in riches (11v28) and remember a good name is better than riches (22v1).

General temperament
Better to have a cheerful, rather than a sorrowful, heart (15v13). Better a tranquil, rather than a passionate, mind (14v30). Do not fear others (29v25) or envy the wicked (24v19) but do not be tempted  to rejoice when your enemies fall (24v17). We should not repay evil with evil but, rather, we should be kind to our enemies (25v21), kind not cruel (11v17). There is a danger to being too timid (11v16). Be cheerful but make sure it is an appropriate time because we don’t bless a neighbour early in the morning (27v14) or by singing songs to a heavy heart (25v20). Be self controlled (25v28).

Eat Honey
Chapter 24v13 says that honey is good and so is this wisdom (v14) which gives us a future.