In a Nutshell

Pro 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Pro 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

Proverbs means "instead of many words." A proverb is a condensed bit of wisdom garnered by much experience.

So this book of the Bible is a vast collection of wise sayings by Solomon, considered the wisest man to ever live.

The purpose of this extremely interesting book is set forth here in the very beginning. "To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding," et al.

Wise people live by principle rather than by emotion. Situational ethics, that is, comporting oneself according to the dictates of the immediate, has no affinity in the life of a principled person.

Rather, they live by the principle of wisdom laid up through the ages by wise collectors of proverbs.

You've heard them, but have you lived by them? "A bird in the hand..." "Don't count your chickens..." These are quips to live by. They are tried, tested, true and unfailing.

The proverbs that we are embarking upon not only flow from the pen of an extremely wise man, but they are inspired by the Lord in Heaven.

Proverbs has been a favorite book of many because it has 31 bite sized chapters. It can be read, over and over again, one chapter each day for a month.