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Bible Dictionaries
Proverbs Book of
People's Dictionary of the Bible
or Proverbs, Book of. This is a collection of wise maxims woven into a didactic poem, and making up a popular system of ethics. They are a guide of practical wisdom, the moral philosophy of the Hebrews. We may divide the book of Proverbs into four parts. 1. Proverbs 1:1-33; Proverbs 2:1-22; Proverbs 3:1-35; Proverbs 4:1-27; Proverbs 5:1-23; Proverbs 6:1-35; Proverbs 7:1-27; Proverbs 8:1-36; Proverbs 9:1-18, a discourse extolling true wisdom, and specially urging the young to secure so excellent a possession. To this we find prefixed a title and introduction, 1:1-6, intended possibly to apply to the whole book. 2. A collection of maxims generally unconnected, inculcating moral precepts which respect both man's duty towards God and his behavior to his fellow-creatures. 10:1-22:16. 3. A more connected address, with various admonitions, and a charge to listen to the words of the wise. 22:17-24:34. 4. An appendix, chaps. 25-31, comprising (1) a collection of Solomon's proverbs which Hezekiah's servants copied out, chaps. 25-29; many of those which are comprised in the second part are here repeated; and (2) chaps. 30, 31, the words of Agur, etc. The book of Proverbs is frequently cited or alluded to in the New Testament. It is, indeed, a treasure-house of ethical wisdom, filled with choice sententious aphorisms, far excelling those of all secular and uninspired sages, and inculcating all moral duties.
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Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Proverbs Book of'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/rpd/p/proverbs-book-of.html. 1893.
