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Notes on Proverbs: Outlines

Writer: William Starkey
William Starkey
Dec 4, 2025
5 min read

[This is much easier to read on a computer.]


A. The Outline of the Book:


  • Proverbs of Solomon, son of David; king of Israel (1-9)

    • Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)

      • Words of wise ones (22:17-24:22)

      • Also these are of wise ones (24:23-34)

    • Also these are Proverbs of Solomon (25-29)

  • Words of Agur, son of Jakeh, the oracle / words of King Lemuel, the oracle… (30-31)


  • Presents, Defines, & Sets Foundation for Wisdom (1-9)

    • Teaching Practical Wisdom (10:1-22:16)

      • Reminders Exhorting Wisdom (22:17-24:22)

      • Exhortation & Warning: Wisdom & Righteousness (24:23-34)

    • Teaching Practical Wisdom (25-29)

  • Concludes and Summarizes Wisdom (30-31)


  • Father teaching son/sons, addressing a specific audience; the flow of thought is easier to understand; sets the foundation for wisdom

    • Perhaps the king teaching the people; overall the author no longer addresses audience as “you” or “my son”; format and flow of the text/author’s argument changes dramatically; instead of an obvious structure, it switches to seemingly standalone short proverbs; lots of repeated themes; these proverbs are mainly statements of truth, as opposed to imperatives

      • Flow of thought is more obvious; lots of imperatives; back to the Father/son setting

      • Emphasis on righteous and unrighteous judgment + implied exhortation in the description of the sluggard to obey this wisdom immediately, or be cursed like him

    • Similar flow of thought as 10:1-22:16; lot of comparisons; 10:1-22:16 has a lot of contrasts

  • Similar setting as 1-9; there it was a father teaching his son/sons; here it is at  least a teacher to his disciples/students, then a mother to her son. Begins and ends with lady wisdom.



B. Detailed Outlines:


I. SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR WISDOM (1-9)

A. Title: Proverbs of Solomon son of David; king, of Israel (1:1)

B. Introduction: Purpose (1:2-7) 1:5, 9:9; 1:7, 9:10

1. Father Warns of Sinners' Call/Wisdom Calls (1:8-33)

a) Protection in Submitting to Wisdom (2)

(1) Imperatives: Wisdom is Covenant Fidelity (3)1

(a) Hear your Father: Get and Guard Wisdom (4:1-19)

i) Focus on your Father’s Words: Guard your Heart with all

Diligence (4:20-27)

(b) Hear your Father: Flee the Adulteress (5)

(2) Imperatives: Wisdom is Covenant Fidelity (6:1-19)

b) Destruction in Following the Adulteress (6:20-35)

2. Father Warns of the Adulteress’s Call/Wisdom Calls (7-8)

C. Conclusion: Choose this Day (9)


1Both vertically (3:1-10) and horizontally (3:21-35), like the Ten Commandments.


Outlines in Proverbs 1-9:


I. Title: Proverbs of Solomon son of David; king, of Israel (1:1)


II. Introduction: Purpose (1:2-7)

A. To know Wisdom and Discipline (1:2a)

1. To understand...sayings of (1:2b)

a) To receive things (1:3)

(1) To give wisdom to those who need it (1:4)

b) A wise man will increase receiving (1:5)

2. To understand...words of (1:6)

B. The beginning of knowledge...Wisdom and Discipline (1:7)


III. Father Warns of Sinners’ Ways/Wisdom Calls (1:8-33)

A. Exhortation: Hear your Father’s Discipline (1:8-9)

B. Don’t Listen to/Follow Sinners’ Temptations (1:10-19)

1. Warning: Don’t Fall into their Trap (1:10)

a) “Let us Ambush!” (1:11-12)

(1) Temptation of Wealth (1:13)

(a) “Be Apart of Us” (1:14)

(b) “Do not Walk with them” (1:15)

(2) Temptation Revealed as Evil (1:16)

b) Their Ambush is Stupid (1:17-18)

2. Point Proven: Their Path leads to Death (1:19)

C. Wisdom Calls (1:20-33)

1. Context: Wisdom Calls (1:20-21)

a) Wisdom’s Exhortation to the Simple (1:22-23)

(1) Reason for Response: the Simple’s Rejection (1:24-25)

(a) Wisdom’s Response: I Told you So (1:26-27)

(2) Wisdom Rejects the Simple who Rejected her (1:28-30)

b) Result of those who Rejected Wisdom’s Exhortation (1:31-32)

2. Result of those who Heard Wisdom’s Call (1:33)


IV. Protection in Submitting to Wisdom (2)

A. IF you will Heed/Treasure/Seek Wisdom (2:1-4)

B. THEN you will Understand (2:5-22)

1. You’ll Understand the Fear of YHWH (2:5-8)

a) Statement: You’ll Understand the Fear of YHWH & Find the Knowledge of God — Going back to 1:7 (2:5)

b) Reason: YHWH Gives Wisdom (2:6-7)

c) Purpose: To Guard (2:8)

2. You’ll Understand Righteousness, Justice, Equity, every Good Track (2:9-22)

a) Statement: You’ll Understand Righteousness, Justice, and Equity, every Good Track — Going back to 1:3 (2:9)

b) Reason: Wisdom will Enter your Heart (2:10-11)

c) Purpose: To Deliver You (2:12-19)

(1) From: The Way of Evil (2:12-15)

(2) From: The Strange Woman (2:16-19)

d) Result: Security to the Abrahamic Covenant (2:20-22)


V. Imperatives: Wisdom is Covenant Fidelity (3)

A. Vertical Imperatives/Do not, do not, do not (3:1-10)

1. YHWH’s Discipline is For your Wisdom (3:11-12)2

a) Blessed is the Man who Finds Wisdom (3:13-18)

2. YHWH Accomplished His Blessed Creation by Wisdom (3:19-20)3

B. Horizontal Imperatives/Do not, do not, do not (3:21-35)


2He disciplines you so that you will be a wise son.

3He created everything by wisdom. He knows what He is doing. He knows what is best.


  1. Choose this Day, My Son, Whom you will Heed (9)

    1. Wisdom Presented, gives Invitation (9:1-6)

      1. 2 Different Responses to Reproof/Contrast Scoffer and Wise Man (9:7-9)

        1. The Beginning and Blessing of Wisdom (9:10-11)

      2. Your Response to Reproof Effects You (9:12)

    2. Woman of Foolishness Presented, gives Invitation (9:13-18)


Outlines in Proverbs 10:


TEACHING & EXHORTING THE PURSUIT OF WISDOM

  1. Diligence in Pursuing Righteousness (10:1-5)

    1. Standard: Contrast of Sons (v. 1) Principle to Aspire to

      1. What Actually Profits: Righteousness (v. 2)

        1. YHWH Provides Righteousness (v. 3)

      2. So Get to Work Pursuing Righteous Wisdom (v. 4)

    2. Because Contrast of Sons (v. 5) Principle to Aspire to

  2. Righteous and Wicked Revealed (10:6-12)

    1. Righteous Blessed, Wicked Cursed (vv. 6-7)

      1. The Wise Obey and Fools are Ruined (v. 8)

        1. No Shame in Integrity, Shame in Crookedness (v. 9)

      2. The Wicked Rebel and Fools are Ruined (v. 10)

    2. Reason: Their Deeds Reveal (vv. 11-12)

  3. Trial by Contrast: Proof/Fruit of Wisdom and Folly (10:13-21)

    1. Commending Wise Words/Reproving Lack of Heart (v. 13)

      1. Strength in Wisdom, Ruin in Folly (vv. 14-15)

        1. The End & Direction of the Righteous and the Wicked (vv. 16-17)

      2. Abundance of Words is Folly (vv. 18-19)

    2. Commending Righteous Words/Condemning Heart of Wicked (vv. 20-21)

  4. Pursue Wisdom! YHWH Blesses those who Pursue Covenant Wisdom (10:22-32)

    1. Allotment/Big Picture: YHWH Sovereign to Bless, Only Two Groups (vv. 22-23)

      1. Contrast of W/R: Testing Reveals Victory & Endurance of the Righteous (vv. 24-25)

        1. The Abhorrent Sluggard: So Please YHWH, be obedient and Blessed! (v. 26)

      2. Contrast of R/W: Security in YHWH, Ruin to the Wicked (vv. 27-30)

    2. Evidence: Accustomed Words of Both (vv. 31-32)


Second Outline of 10:22-32

  1. YHWH Sovereign: Two Groups Presented who do what they do (vv. 22-23)

    1. Testing: What will happen to them (vv. 24-25)

      1. Sluggardry Repulsive: Pursue Wisdom! (v. 26)

    2. Blessing/Cursing of them: What this Objectively Looks like (vv. 27-30)

  2. Two Groups Proven by Speech: they know what they do (vv. 31-32)

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