Wisdom & Decision Atlas
Proverbs — Wisdom & Decision Atlas
The wisdom of Proverbs, mapped by decision.
Proverbs is a compiled collection of Israelite wisdom writing — eight collections, several named voices, and hundreds of sayings about money, speech, work, anger, family, justice and power.
The Lord Will · Dataset version: 2026-08-11 · Full atlas: https://thelordwill.com/en/bible/proverbs
The eight collections
1. Instruction & Lady Wisdom
Proverbs 1:1–9:18
Proverbs 1:1–9:18
2. Solomonic sayings
Proverbs 10:1–22:16
Proverbs 10:1–22:16
3. Words of the Wise
Proverbs 22:17–24:22 · Boundary debated
Proverbs 22:17–24:22
4. Further words of the Wise
Proverbs 24:23–34
Proverbs 24:23–34
5. Copied by Hezekiah's men
Proverbs 25:1–29:27
Proverbs 25:1–29:27
6. The words of Agur
Proverbs 30:1–33 · Boundary debated
Proverbs 30:1–33
7. The words of King Lemuel
Proverbs 31:1–9 · Boundary debated
Proverbs 31:1–9
8. The woman of strength
Proverbs 31:10–31
Proverbs 31:10–31
What Proverbs says about…
| Topic | Instructs / Warns | Counterbalance |
|---|---|---|
| Speech | 6:16–19, 10:19, 12:16 | 26:5, 26:20, 28:23 |
| Anger | 14:29, 15:1, 22:24–25 | 19:11, 12:16 |
| Conflict | 15:1, 18:13, 19:11 | 10:12, 25:15, 25:21–22 |
| Money | 3:9–10, 3:27–28, 6:1–5 | 11:24–25, 15:16, 22:1 |
| Debt & borrowing | 6:1–5, 11:15, 22:26–27 | — |
| Wealth | 3:9–10, 15:17, 17:1 | 11:28, 18:10–11, 23:4–5 |
| Poverty | 14:21, 15:16, 31:8–9 | 14:31, 19:17, 21:13 |
| Generosity | 3:9–10, 3:27–28, 14:21 | 25:21–22 |
| Work | 24:3–4, 27:23–27, 6:6–11 | 23:4–5, 13:20 |
| Diligence | 27:23–27 | 6:6–11, 20:4, 19:2 |
| Laziness | 6:6–11, 20:4, 20:13 | — |
| Planning | 3:5–6, 11:14, 14:15 | 16:9, 19:2 |
| Counsel | 2:1–5, 3:5–6, 11:14 | 14:15, 18:17 |
| Leadership | 11:14, 24:23–25, 25:15 | 16:32 |
| Justice | 11:1, 14:21, 24:10–12 | 14:31, 19:17, 16:8 |
| Honesty | 3:27–28, 11:1, 24:23–25 | 16:2, 30:7–9 |
| Friendship | 10:12, 11:13, 13:20 | 27:5–6, 28:23, 6:1–5 |
| Marriage | 5:3–5 | 15:17, 17:1 |
| Sexuality | 5:3–5, 7:6–23, 9:13–18 | 30:18–19 |
| Parenting | 1:8–9, 13:24 | 22:6 |
| Discipline & self-control | 1:8–9, 3:11–12, 4:23 | 22:6 |
| Correction & criticism | 3:11–12, 12:1, 19:20 | 27:5–6, 28:23, 9:7–8 |
| Pride | 27:2, 11:2, 16:18 | — |
| Humility | 27:2, 28:13, 16:18 | 24:17–18 |
| Reputation | 22:1, 27:2 | — |
| Alcohol | 20:1, 23:29–35, 31:4–5 | — |
| Wisdom | 1:7, 2:1–5, 3:5–6 | 14:12, 17:22, 17:27–28 |
| Foolishness | 12:1, 26:4, 1:7 | 9:1–6, 26:5, 17:27–28 |
Wisdom and folly, side by side
| Dimension | The wise | The foolish |
|---|---|---|
| Correction & criticism | 3:11–12, 12:1, 19:20, 28:13 | 26:11, 29:1 |
| Counsel | 2:1–5, 3:5–6, 11:14, 13:10 | 12:15, 17:18, 18:2, 18:13 |
| Speech | 6:16–19, 10:19, 12:16, 12:18 | 11:13, 16:28, 18:2, 29:20 |
| Anger | 14:29, 15:1, 16:32 | 22:24–25, 25:28, 29:11 |
| Planning | 3:5–6, 11:14, 14:15, 15:22 | 14:12, 27:1 |
| Work | 10:4, 24:3–4, 27:23–27, 28:19 | 6:6–11, 20:4, 20:13, 24:30–34 |
| Money | 3:9–10, 3:27–28, 6:1–5, 10:22 | 11:15, 11:28, 17:18, 18:10–11 |
| Sexuality | — | 5:3–5, 7:6–23, 9:13–18 |
| Friendship | 10:12, 11:13, 13:20, 17:17 | 16:28, 22:24–25 |
| Humility | 11:2, 27:2, 28:13, 29:23 | 16:18 |
| Justice | 11:1, 13:23, 14:21, 24:10–12 | 21:13, 22:22–23, 23:10–11, 31:4–5 |
| Alcohol | — | 20:1, 23:20–21, 23:29–35, 31:4–5 |
The Hebrew vocabulary of wisdom
- חָכְמָה ḥokmâ — wisdom, skill (wisdom, skill)
- יִרְאַת יְהוָה yirʾat YHWH — the fear of the LORD (fear of the LORD)
- מוּסָר mûsār — discipline, instruction, correction (discipline, instruction, correction)
- בִּינָה bînâ — understanding, discernment (understanding, discernment)
- כְּסִיל kesîl — fool, dullard (fool, dullard)
- אֱוִיל ʾĕwîl — fool (fool)
- לֵץ lēṣ — scoffer, scorner, mocker (scoffer, scorner, mocker)
- פֶּתִי petî — simple, naive (simple, naive, fool)
- עָרוּם ʿārûm — prudent, shrewd, crafty (prudent, shrewd, crafty)
- צַדִּיק ṣaddîq — righteous, just (righteous, just)
- רָשָׁע rāšāʿ — wicked, guilty (wicked, guilty)