It has been a pattern in my devotional reading for years to include a proverb a day, easily keeping track by reading the Proverb corresponding to the day of the month (31 Proverbs). The wisdom found in this book is timeless.
The first six verses of the first chapter outlines the purpose of the book:
To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;
To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion;
A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. (Prov 1:2-6)
To put it another way, Proverbs teaches us to apply divine wisdom to our daily lives and provides practical moral instruction.
Consider these verses from the fourth chapter:
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
(Proverbs 4:20-27)
