Proverbs for real life

Proverbs was written for grown-ups first: a parent passing on what matters. Pick the part of life you are in, and read what Proverbs says about it in full, with a short explanation and one thing to try this week.

• Proverbs about wisdomIn Proverbs, wisdom is skill for living God’s way, and it starts with knowing God (Proverbs 9:10).
• Proverbs about moneyProverbs treats money as a test of the heart: honor God with it first, gain it honestly and slowly, give it freely, and stay out of debt where you can.
• Proverbs about wordsProverbs says words carry real power: they can wound like a sword or heal like medicine (Proverbs 12:18).
• Proverbs about angerThe Bible does not call every anger sin (Ephesians 4:26), yet Proverbs praises being slow to anger again and again.
• Proverbs about workProverbs honors steady, skilled, diligent work and warns that laziness leads to want.
• Proverbs about friendshipProverbs says a true friend loves at all times, tells you the truth and makes you better.
• Proverbs for parentsProverbs opens as a parent teaching a child (chapters 1 to 9), so it speaks naturally to parents.
• Proverbs for making decisionsProverbs gives a pattern for hard decisions: trust God more than your own read of things, gather wise counsel, listen fully before answering and think it through.

Reading with your kids? Start the 31 Days of Proverbs for Kids.