PROVERBS. The Hebrew title of this book is "Mishle," ("by-words," "proverbs," "similitudes"); in the LXX. it is called "Wisdom," and in the Vulgate, the "Book of Proverbs."

It is a manual of practical rules of life, as the Psalms are a manual of daily devotion; the former guiding the actions, the latter the thoughts. It is a book of daily lessons for all ages and states of men and women. "Wisdom" is religion; and "folly " is irreligion.

It may be divided as follows:—1. Introduction,—the value of wisdom (i.—ix.). 2. The Proverbs (strictly so called) of Solomon (x.—xxii. 16). 3. Another introduction, on the study of wisdom (xxii. 17--xxiv.). 4. A second volume of true Proverbs, collected by those who were set by Heze-kiah to restore the Temple worship, among whom were Isaiah and Hosea (xxv.—xxix.). 5. An Appendix, containing the instructions of Agur to his pupils Ithiel and Ucal, and of the mother of Lemuel to her son (xxx., xxxi.).

It is generally allowed that the main portion (x.—xxii. 16) is the work of Solomon, consisting of Proverbs composed or collected by himself, and that the other portions have been collected and added to it subsequently, the original title being preserved for the whole of the compilation, just as was done for the Psalms.

Date and Authorship. The date of this final arrangement is uncertain, but it was most probably in the time of Hezekiah. Modern critics are divided in their opinion whether the first part of the book (i.—ix.) belongs to the seventh or ninth century B.C., and the arguments on either side are alike inconclusive. It is also a matter of dispute whether it is earlier or later than the Song of Solomon and the Book of Job, many passages in the latter bearing such a striking resemblance to the Proverbs as to leave no doubt that the writer of the one was familiar with the other book. The Jews attributed the Songs of Solomon to the early youth, the Proverbs to the mature age, and Ecclesiastes to the declining years of Solomon, while others have assigned them all to the last portion of his life. There has never been any doubt of the Canonicity of the book, except by some writers among the Jews themselves.