Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary

Old Testament, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes

Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson #31

"Happy Is the Man That Findeth Wisdom" (Proverbs 3:13)

"Proverbs are short sayings that generally give counsel about living righteously.  The Old Testament records that Solomon "spake three thousand proverbs' (1 Kings 4:32).  Some of these wise sayings are included in the book of Proverbs.  Although Solomon and the other authors of this book were not prophets, much of what they wrote was inspired by the Lord.  Their writings generally reflect a belief that true wisdom comes from God.

"The book of Ecclesiastes also contains wise sayings, and some people believe Solomon to be its author.  The message of Ecclesiastes is that life is meaningful only through God" (Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2001), 151–56).

•The writer of Ecclesiastes believes that all is "vanity" except for God.  In the last two verses he writes: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man, For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl. 12:13-14).  (See "vanity" in Bible Dictionary, meaning falsehood or deceit; empty, transitory, or fleeting, p. 787.)

The following are well-known scriptures from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes:

•Proverbs 6:18 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

•Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it."

•Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

 •Proverbs 3:5 -  "Trust in the Lord with all thine  heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." 

•Proverbs 13:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger."

•Proverbs 23:7 -  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:"

Wisdom Proverbs:

•Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear [reverence, obedience] of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

•Proverbs 2:2-6 - "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding: If thou seekest her [wisdom's] silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the frar of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

•Proverbs 3:13-18 - "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.  She [wisdom] is more precious than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She [wisdom] is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her"  —"the tree of life is a symbol of God’s love" (OT Teachers Manual, 151–56).

•Ecclesiastes 7:12 - "For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."

•Proverbs 9:9-10 - "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

Note:  "Wisdom is more than knowledge; it is the proper application of knowledge. (To the Israelites, wisdom meant obedience to God’s laws)" (OT Teachers Manual, 151–56).

•Proverbs 15:31-33 - "The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.  The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."

Trust in the Lord Proverbs:

•Proverbs 3: 5-7 - "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil."

The words we speak Proverbs:

•Proverbs 6:16-19 - "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

•Proverbs 16:27-28 - "An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.  A froward [perverse, false] man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."

•Proverbs 18:8 - "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly." 

•Proverbs 25:18 - "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul [club or mallet], and a sword, and a sharp arrow."

•Proverbs 16:24 - "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."

•Proverbs 15:1 - " A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

Pride Proverbs:

•Proverbs 8:13 - "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward [false, lying] mouth, do I hate."

•Proverbs 13:10 - "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom."

•Proverbs 16:18-19 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

President Ezra Taft Benson said:

“The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means ‘hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.’ It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.

“Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done.’ As Paul said, they ‘seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s’ (Philippians 2:21).

“Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled (see Alma 38:12; 3 Nephi 12:30).

 “Our enmity toward God takes on many labels, such as rebellion, hard-heartedness, stiff-neckedness, unrepentant, puffed up, easily offended, and sign seekers. The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s. …

“Pride is a damning sin in the true sense of that word. It limits or stops progression (see Alma 12:10–11). The proud are not easily taught (see 1 Nephi 15:3, 7–11). They won’t change their minds to accept truths, because to do so implies they have been wrong.

“Another face of pride is contention. Arguments, fights, unrighteous dominion, generation gaps, divorces, spouse abuse, riots, and disturbances all fall into this category of pride.

“Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. …

“Pride adversely affects all our relationships—our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 3–5; or Ensign, May 1989, 4, 6, quoted in the OT Teacher's Manual).

Friendship Proverbs:

•Proverbs 13:20 - "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

•Proverbs 22:24-25 - "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."

•Proverbs 17:17 - "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

•Proverbs 27:9 - "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel."

•Proverbs 18:24: "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

•Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

Elder Marvin J. Ashton said:

“Someone has said, ‘A friend is a person who is willing to take me the way I am.’ Accepting this as one definition of the word, may I quickly suggest that we are something less than a real friend if we leave a person the same way we find him. …

“No greater reward can come to any of us as we serve than a sincere ‘Thank you for being my friend.’ When those who need assistance find their way back through and with us, it is friendship in action. When the weak are made strong and the strong stronger through our lives, friendship is real. If a man can be judged by his friends, he can also be measured by their heights. …

“Yes, a friend is a person who is willing to take me the way I am but who is willing and able to leave me better than he found me” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1972, 32, 35; or Ensign, Jan. 1973, 41, 43 - quoted in the OT Teachers Manual).

•John 15:13 - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Raising Children Proverbs:

•Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Elder Richard G. Scott said: “You must be willing to forgo personal pleasure and self-interest for family-centered activity, and not turn over to church, school, or society the principal role of fostering a child’s well-rounded development. It takes time, great effort, and significant personal sacrifice to ‘train up a child in the way he should go.’ But where can you find greater rewards for a job well done?” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 43; or Ensign, May 1993, 34, quoted in OT Teachers Manual).

•Proverbs 19:19 - "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."

•Proverbs 19:18 - "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

•Proverbs 6:20-23 - "My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:   Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.  When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"

D&C 121:41-44 - "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death."

Happiness and good humor Proverbs:

•Proverbs 15:13 - "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."

•Proverbs 17:22 - "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

President Hugh B. Brown said: “I would like to have you smile because after all we must keep a sense of humor whatever comes. I think of all the people in the world we should be the happiest. We have the greatest and most joyous message in the world. I think when we get on the other side, someone will meet us with a smile (unless we go to the wrong place and then someone will grin [does he mean smirk?]), so let us be happy. But let our happiness be genuine—let it come from within” (The Abundant Life[1965], 83, quoted in Teachers Manual).

Body reference Proverbs:

•Proverbs 2:2 - So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;"

•Proverbs 2:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

•Proverbs 3:7 - "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil."

•Proverbs 3:27 - "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it."

•Proverbs 4:26-27 - "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."

•Proverbs 8:7 - "For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips."

•Proverbs 10:4 - "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."

•Proverbs 12:5 - "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

Proverb 31:10-31: "A virtuous woman"

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."