Lockyer states Goodman as an excellent starting point and a fitting summary for the book of Proverbs:
In Proverbs, Wisdom’s voice is heard appealing to the young,
Lockyer. 1966. All the Books and Chapters of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan Publishing House. Pg. 149.
To save their feet from many snares and teach them to be strong.
Proverbs directs people how to live a godly life and lead wisely by proper morals and ethics, as well as how to avoid the catastrophic perils and danger of not following this sound instruction. The instructions are a great collection of subjects that are very useful and effective in life. If there were a motto for this book, it would be “The Fear of the Lord.” Barker and Kolenberger describe this fear as the prerequisite of knowledge:
Reverential “fear” (GK 3711) of the Lord is the prerequisite of knowledge … “The fear of the Lord” ultimately expresses reverential submission to the Lord’s will and thus characterizes a true worshiper. In this context it is the first and controlling principle of knowledge.
Barker & Kohlenberger. 1994. Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI. Pg. 742.
Unlike Job and Ecclesiastes which use lengthy monologues and dialogues to ponder enormous topics such as what is the meaning of life, the problem of good and evil, and the relationship between God and man, Proverbs uses short pithy statements of wisdom that deal with common everyday situations. The sayings are focused on individuals rather than on nations. They are based on respect for authority and traditional values, so the collections of these sayings is not uniquely religious. These teachings apply to problems for plain ordinary people who live in the world with the same characteristics, the same types of perils, the same abilities, and at any time in history. Buzzell nicely summarizes the purpose of the book:
The fivefold purpose of Proverbs is given in the introduction to the book (Prov. 1:2-4, 6): (a) “for attaining wisdom and discipline,” (b) “for understanding words of insight,” ( c) “for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,” (d) “for giving prudence to the simple,” (e) “for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.” These purposes focus on helping readers live wisely and skilfully.
Buzzel, Sid S. 2004. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Cook Communications Ministries. Colorado Springs, ColoradoPg. 901.
And like the previous books of literature, 2 Timothy 3:16 would summarize Buzzell’s summarization. Based on the meaning and purpose of these sayings, it would be wrong to assume that this book is a secular book because it is clearly based on the fear of the Lord.
The traditional view is that Solomon was the author of the entire book of Proverbs and that Agur and Lemuel were pseudonyms of Solomon. This view has been somewhat revised in the recent past in which one must take into account the structure of the book in order to understand the authorship and the date of this book.
Much like the book of Psalms, Proverbs contains eight sections which were written at disparate times by several authors and much like the book of Job, several editors. However, as with all other books of the Bible, the writing and compiling were accomplished by the superintending work of the Holy Spirit.
In a more general and revised review, it is thought that sections I-III were written by Solomon around the 10th century, section IV by the unknown identify of the wise men, section V written by Solomon and compiled by the men of Hezekiah, section VI and VII written by Agur and King Lemuel, and section VIII authorship is still unknown. It is presumed that Israel knew these sayings by the time of Solomon, and the prologue of the book was added by the time of Hezekiah, and possibly yet Solomon’s time.
Proverbs opens with an introduction giving a clear purpose for the book. The author then speaks of a fathers admonition to acquire wisdom. This is accomplished by admonitions, warnings, proper conduct, followed by appeals and consequences. Then begins the first collection of Solomonic proverbs, followed by sayings from the wise men, the words of Agur, and the words of Lemuel. The wife of nobel character is the last collection of the book of Proverbs.
Biblical Studies 