| Introduction | p. 1 |
| The Place of the Book of Proverbs in the Canon | p. 1 |
| The Book of Proverbs among Biblical Wisdom Literature | p. 3 |
| The Meaning of Wisdom | p. 3 |
| The Universal Character of Wisdom | p. 14 |
| The Social Locations of the Wisdom Tradition | p. 15 |
| The Sage | p. 23 |
| The Language and Rhetoric of Wisdom Literature | p. 27 |
| The Imagination of the Wise | p. 33 |
| The Message of Proverbs for the Contemporary Church | p. 42 |
| Commentary | |
| The First Collection: "The Proverbs of Solomon Son of David, King of Israel" Proverbs 1--9 | p. 55 |
| 1:1 The Superscription: "The Proverbs of Solomon Son of David, King of Israel" | p. 64 |
| 1:2-7 Introduction: To Know Wisdom and Discipline | p. 68 |
| 1:8-19 First Instruction: A Warning against the Enticement to Join Violent Men | p. 76 |
| 1:20-33 First Poem on Woman Wisdom: Woman Wisdom's Invitation to the Simple | p. 80 |
| 2:1-22 Second Instruction: The Blessings of Wisdom and the Avoidance of the Strange Woman | p. 86 |
| 3:1-12 Third Instruction: The Blessings of Wisdom and Piety | p. 95 |
| 3:13-20 Second Poem on Wisdom: Wisdom's Gifts and Role in Creation | p. 101 |
| 3:21-35 Fourth Instruction: The Life of Wisdom Is Actualized in Charity and Uprightness | p. 105 |
| 4:1-9 Fifth Instruction: The Prize of Wisdom Is a Beautiful Crown | p. 111 |
| 4:10-27 Sixth Instruction: The Two Ways | p. 115 |
| 5:1-23 Seventh Instruction: Avoidance of the Strange Woman | p. 118 |
| 6:1-19 Eighth Instruction: A Miscellany of Sapiential Teaching | p. 123 |
| 6:20-35 Ninth Instruction: Warning against Adultery | p. 128 |
| 7:1-27 Tenth Instruction: Seduction by the Strange Woman | p. 132 |
| 8:1-36 Woman Wisdom: Wisdom as Teacher, Queen of Heaven, Child of God | p. 138 |
| 9:1-18 Poem on Wisdom and Folly: Contending for the Heart | p. 147 |
| The Second Collection: "The Proverbs of Solomon" Proverbs 10:1--22:16 | p. 157 |
| 10:1a The Superscription: "The Proverbs of Solomon" | p. 160 |
| 10:1b--15:33 First Subdivision | p. 163 |
| 16:1--22:16 Second Subdivision | p. 179 |
| The Third Collection: "The Sayings of the Wise" Proverbs 22:17--24:22 | p. 199 |
| 22:17--23:11 First Instruction | p. 200 |
| 23:12-18 Second Instruction | p. 206 |
| 23:19-21 Third Instruction | p. 207 |
| 23:22-25 Fourth Instruction | p. 209 |
| 23:26--24:12 Fifth Instruction | p. 211 |
| 24:13-20 Sixth Instruction | p. 213 |
| 24:21-22 Seventh Instruction | p. 215 |
| The Fourth Collection: "These Also are Sayings of the Wise" Proverbs 24:23-34 | p. 217 |
| The Fifth Collection: "These are Other Proverbs of Solomon That the Officials of King Hezekiah of Judah Copied" Proverbs 25--29 | p. 223 |
| The Sixth Collection: "The Words of Agur" Proverbs 30 | p. 251 |
| The Seventh Collection: "The Words of King Lemuel of Massa, Which His Mother Taught Him" Proverbs 31:1-9 | p. 269 |
| The Eighth Collection: The Ideal Wise Woman Proverbs 31:10-31 | p. 275 |
| Bibliography | |
| For Further Study | p. 281 |
| Works Cited | p. 284 |
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