Outline of Proverbs: Learn wisdom in the fear of the LORD

Part 1 · Wisdom calls for a hearing 1:1–9:18

Parents and personified Wisdom summon the learner to choose life rather than violence, adultery and folly.

1. 1
   Proverbs 1: Begin with reverence and listen

   The fear of the LORD opens the way to wisdom; reject violent gain and heed Wisdom’s urgent public call.

   Wisdom’s purpose and foundation 1:1–7 · Reject a violent invitation 1:8–19 · Wisdom calls in public 1:20–33

2. 2
   Proverbs 2: Seek wisdom as a treasure

   The LORD gives wisdom to those who seek it, guarding their paths from corrupt company and covenant-breaking desire.

   Seek the wisdom God gives 2:1–8 · Discern paths and company 2:9–15 · Keep covenant faithfulness 2:16–22

3. 3
   Proverbs 3: Trust the LORD in daily life

   Trust the LORD rather than your own understanding, receive His discipline and practice generous, peaceable wisdom.

   Trust, honor and receive correction 3:1–12 · Wisdom is worth pursuing 3:13–20 · Walk with sound judgment 3:21–26 · Do good to your neighbor 3:27–35

4. 4
   Proverbs 4: Guard the heart and the path

   Receive wisdom across generations, avoid the way of the wicked and guard the heart that directs your whole life.

   Receive wisdom handed down 4:1–9 · Choose the path of light 4:10–19 · Guard the source of conduct 4:20–27

5. 5
   Proverbs 5: Find delight in faithful marriage

   Reject adultery’s deceptive promise, delight in your own marriage and remember that the LORD sees every path.

   See beyond seductive words 5:1–14 · Rejoice in your own wife 5:15–20 · Every path lies before God 5:21–23

6. 6
   Proverbs 6: Refuse traps that destroy a household

   Escape reckless pledges, learn diligence, reject deceit and take the warning against adultery seriously.

   Escape an unwise pledge 6:1–5 · Learn from the ant 6:6–11 · God hates destructive conduct 6:12–19 · Heed the warning about adultery 6:20–35

7. 7
   Proverbs 7: Recognize temptation before following it

   Treasure wisdom so that flattering promises and apparent secrecy do not draw you into adultery’s deadly path.

   Make wisdom close to you 7:1–5 · Watch a temptation unfold 7:6–23 · Do not turn toward the path 7:24–27

8. 8
   Proverbs 8: Listen to the wisdom of the Creator

   Wisdom calls openly, prizes righteousness above riches and speaks from her place beside God’s ordering of creation.

   Truth calls openly 8:1–11 · Wisdom governs justly 8:12–21 · Wisdom before and at creation 8:22–31 · Hear wisdom and live 8:32–36

9. 9
   Proverbs 9: Choose which invitation to accept

   Wisdom and Folly offer rival meals; reverence and teachability distinguish the way to life from hidden death.

   Wisdom prepares a generous table 9:1–6 · Correction reveals the hearer 9:7–12 · Folly conceals the cost 9:13–18

Part 2 · Solomon’s short sayings 10:1–22:16

Contrasting sayings train judgment about speech, work, wealth, relationships and rule.

1. 10
   Proverbs 10: Let righteousness shape work and words

   Wise conduct bears life-giving fruit in work and speech, while deceit, hatred and folly undermine their own security.

   Work and walk with integrity 10:1–10 · Speak for the life of others 10:11–21 · Consider lasting outcomes 10:22–32

2. 11
   Proverbs 11: Practice integrity for the good of others

   Honesty, humility and generosity build a community, while unjust gain and trust in riches lead toward ruin.

   Wealth cannot replace integrity 11:1–8 · Words affect a whole city 11:9–15 · Character outweighs appearance 11:16–23 · Give rather than trust riches 11:24–31

3. 12
   Proverbs 12: Welcome correction and speak healing words

   Teachability, faithful work and truthful speech sustain life, while self-assured folly wounds people and invites ruin.

   Become teachable and dependable 12:1–12 · Choose speech that heals 12:13–22 · Exercise prudent care 12:23–28

4. 13
   Proverbs 13: Let instruction reshape desire and habits

   Wisdom welcomes correction, guards speech and chooses good companions; injustice can also harm the poor.

   Guard conduct and desire 13:1–9 · Receive counsel and pursue knowledge 13:10–19 · Attend to companions and household 13:20–25

5. 14
   Proverbs 14: Discern the way and honor the Maker

   Wise discernment fears the LORD, treats the poor with kindness and looks beyond what merely seems right.

   Consider what builds and what deceives 14:1–9 · Look beyond appearances 14:10–19 · Fear God and care for neighbors 14:20–27 · Rule patiently and honor the Maker 14:28–35

6. 15
   Proverbs 15: Speak gently and remain teachable

   The LORD sees hearts; gentle words, humble correction and love are better than proud speech or troubled riches.

   Speak before the God who sees 15:1–12 · Value love and wise counsel 15:13–23 · Choose humility and correction 15:24–33

7. 16
   Proverbs 16: Plan humbly under the LORD’s rule

   The LORD weighs motives and directs outcomes; seek justice, humility and restrained speech rather than proud control.

   Submit plans and motives to God 16:1–9 · Let rule serve justice 16:10–15 · Prefer humble wisdom 16:16–24 · Restrain destructive impulses 16:25–33

8. 17
   Proverbs 17: Preserve peace with truth and restraint

   Peace, loyal friendship and justice outweigh display; wise people receive rebuke and restrain their words.

   Choose peace and faithful love 17:1–9 · Receive rebuke and avoid strife 17:10–19 · Keep a discerning and calm spirit 17:20–28

9. 18
   Proverbs 18: Listen before speaking and trust the LORD

   Wise listening guards justice and relationships, while the LORD provides refuge beyond the imagined safety of riches.

   Do not let folly govern speech 18:1–9 · Seek true refuge and hear the case 18:10–17 · Consider the effects of words 18:18–24

10. 19
    Proverbs 19: Value integrity and receive correction

    Integrity outweighs wealth; care for the poor, accept correction and trust the LORD’s purpose above your own plans.

    Choose integrity over status 19:1–10 · Practice patience and active care 19:11–19 · Hear counsel under God’s purpose 19:20–29

11. 20
    Proverbs 20: Deal honestly and leave vengeance to God

    Wisdom joins sober judgment, honest measures and patient counsel with humility about sin and dependence on the LORD.

    Judge with sobriety and humility 20:1–12 · Work and speak honestly 20:13–21 · Wait on the LORD and act faithfully 20:22–30

12. 21
    Proverbs 21: Pursue justice under God’s sovereign hand

    The LORD weighs hearts and rules outcomes; justice, generosity and restraint matter more than outward religious display.

    Let God’s judgment test the heart 21:1–8 · Hear the needy and seek justice 21:9–18 · Choose righteousness and restraint 21:19–29 · Depend on the LORD for victory 21:30–31

13. 22
    Proverbs 22: Train for wisdom and protect the vulnerable

    Honor the common Maker, cultivate wise habits and receive instruction that leads to trust and justice.

    Value character and cultivate wisdom 22:1–9 · Remove folly and refuse exploitation 22:10–16 · Receive the sayings with trust 22:17–21 · Protect justice in daily decisions 22:22–29

Part 3 · Thirty sayings of the wise 22:17–24:22

Trust in the LORD takes shape in restraint, justice, diligence and hope.

1. 23
   Proverbs 23: Discipline desire and hold to truth

   Restrain appetite and envy, protect the defenseless and pursue instruction instead of wealth, seduction and drunkenness.

   Do not be mastered by gain 23:1–11 · Invest in correction and hope 23:12–18 · Give the heart to wisdom 23:19–28 · See drunkenness to its end 23:29–35

2. 24
   Proverbs 24: Act with courage, fairness and diligence

   Wisdom resists envy, rescues those in danger, refuses revenge and learns from the visible cost of neglect.

   Use wisdom to protect life 24:1–12 · Hope without envy or gloating 24:13–22 · Judge fairly and refuse revenge 24:23–29 · Learn from a neglected field 24:30–34

Part 4 · Further sayings of the wise 24:23–34

Impartial judgment, honest speech and attentive work oppose retaliation and neglect.

Part 5 · Solomon’s sayings copied under Hezekiah 25:1–29:27

Wisdom governs rulers and households through restraint, correction, justice and trust.

1. 25
   Proverbs 25: Practice restraint before rulers and neighbors

   Humility, fitting words, dependable service and kindness to enemies show wisdom under pressure.

   Seek just rule and humble conduct 25:1–10 · Let words and service fit the need 25:11–15 · Exercise restraint and show kindness 25:16–22 · Guard character and self-control 25:23–28

2. 26
   Proverbs 26: Answer folly without joining it

   Wisdom discerns how to answer fools, refuses lazy self-confidence and stops the speech that feeds conflict.

   Respond wisely to fools 26:1–12 · See through lazy self-assurance 26:13–16 · Stop feeding conflict 26:17–22 · Look beyond smooth speech 26:23–28

3. 27
   Proverbs 27: Receive faithful counsel and tend your charge

   Do not boast of tomorrow; welcome honest friendship, examine the heart and care diligently for what is entrusted to you.

   Value humility and faithful friends 27:1–10 · Let correction test character 27:11–22 · Know the condition of your flocks 27:23–27

4. 28
   Proverbs 28: Confess sin and refuse oppressive gain

   Keep God’s instruction, confess and forsake sin, and choose integrity and generosity over greedy power.

   Let instruction govern wealth and rule 28:1–12 · Turn from sin and hard-hearted power 28:13–18 · Work faithfully and give freely 28:19–28

5. 29
   Proverbs 29: Let justice and correction govern power

   Just rule protects the vulnerable; correction restrains folly, and trust in the LORD overcomes human fear.

   Receive correction and protect justice 29:1–7 · Restrain anger and form character 29:8–17 · Heed instruction and trust the LORD 29:18–27

Part 6 · Agur’s humble observations 30:1–33

Human limits, God’s pure word and patterns in creation teach humility and contentment.

1. 30
   Proverbs 30: Receive God’s word with humble contentment

   Admit human limits, trust God’s pure word and learn contentment and restraint from the patterns of created life.

   Confess limits and seek enough 30:1–9 · Reject arrogance and devouring desire 30:10–17 · Notice wonder and disruption 30:18–23 · Learn from small and stately creatures 30:24–31 · Stop before anger multiplies 30:32–33

Part 7 · Just rule and a woman worth praising 31:1–31

A mother teaches a king to defend the vulnerable, and the closing poem honors a woman who fears the LORD.

1. 31
   Proverbs 31: Use strength for justice and worthy work

   A ruler must defend the vulnerable, and a woman who fears the LORD deserves praise for her wisdom, work and generosity.

   Rule with restraint and defend the voiceless 31:1–9 · Recognize capable and trustworthy work 31:10–19 · Join provision with generosity and wisdom 31:20–27 · Give fitting honor 31:28–31