1. Drunkenness - the Evils of Strong Drink
2. Fear of God - the Basis of True Wisdom and Knowledge
3. Fools - Fools Despise Wisdom and Instruction
4. Friendship - the Value of Friends
5. Integrity - the Power of a Good Name
6. Parents and Children
7. Pride - Perils of the Proud Heart
8. Reproof - Accepting Just Criticism
9. Riches - the Deceitfulness of Wealth
10. Strife and Contention
11. Wisdom - the Value of Acquiring Knowledge
12. Women - Godly Women Who Deserve to be Praised
13. Working Versus Laziness
LESSON ONE: DRUNKENNESS - THE EVILS OF STRONG DRINK
1. What does the writer say regarding those who are deceived by the influence of strong drink? (Prov. 20:1)
2. What will happen to those who love wine? (Prov. 21:17)
3. The sensible and righteous are warned not to be among whom? (Prov. 23:20)
4. Make a list of the evils of drunkenness from Prov. 23:29-35.
5. Why is it especially sinful for kings and rulers to be given to strong drink? (Prov. 31:4-5)
6. To whom does the writer say that strong drink should be given? (Prov. 31:6)
7. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. Name some in the Bible who totally abstained from strong drink.
b. Give some Bible examples of shameful drunkenness.
c. What condemnation does God place upon drunkards under the New Testament?
d. In which of these realms does strong drink NOT have its evil affects: socially, morally,
physically, spiritually?
LESSON TWO: FEAR OF GOD - THE BASIS OF TRUE WISDOM
1. What is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom? (Prov. 1:7; 9:10).
2. What should one be in (continue in) all the day long? (Prov. 23:17)
3. What are the benefits of the fear of the Lord as mentioned in Prov. 14:27?
4. What goes hand in hand with fearing the Lord? (Prov. 3:7)
5. What is the contrast made of the wise and the fool in Prov. 14:16?
6. What promise in Prov. 31:30 is made regarding the woman who fears the Lord?
7. What is "better" according to Prov. 15:16?
8. From Prov. 22:4, what are some blessings which come from humility and fear of God?
9. From Prov. 1:24-33, what are some evils which come upon those who hate knowledge and do not choose to fear the Lord?
10. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. List passages from the New Testament which teach us to fear God.
b. See Prov. 10:27. How does the fear of the Lord prolong one's life expectancy?
c. What principle "moved" Noah to build an ark to the saving of his house?
d. What did the Lord "require" of Israel?
e. How did Jonah identify himself to the crew of the ship that was sailing to Tarshish?
LESSON THREE: FOOLS - FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION
1. The way of a fool is right in who's eyes? (Prov. 12:15)
2. How does the fool regard his father's instruction (discipline NASV)? (Prov. 15:5)
3. One who trusts his own heart is said to be what? (Prov. 28:26)
4. Is the fool's wrath easily detected? (Prov. 12:16)
5. What is said regarding the one who spreads a slander? (Prov. 10:18; 29:11)
6. What is a "prating fool" and what will happen to him? (Prov. 10:8)
7. What will prosperity (complacency NKJV) do to the fool? (Prov. 1:32)
8. It is an honor for one to cease from strife, but what will the fool be doing? (Prov. 20:3)
9. A fool's lips enter into what, and they become a snare of what? (Prov. 18:6-7)
10. What do fools make a mock at? (Prov. 14:9)
11. From Prov. 1:7, what is the main cause of people becoming fools?
12. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. Name some who are called "fools" in the Bible.
b. What did the Psalmist say that the fool has said in his heart?
c. What are we commanded in Eph. 5:17?
LESSON FOUR: FRIENDSHIP - THE VALUE OF FRIENDS
1. What simple statement did the writer of Proverbs use to show that true friendship is
unchangeable and remains constant? (Prov. 17:17)
2. The wounds of a friend are said to be what? (Prov. 27:6)
3. From Prov. 27:10, what should one not do regarding his friend?
4. What does the word "surety" mean in Prov. 17:18?
5. How does one gain friends? (Prov. 18:24)
6. Can one win friends by flattery? (Prov. 27:14)
7. What does the sweetness of one's friend by hearty counsel do? (Prov. 27:9)
8. How does friendship benefit one as iron sharpens iron? (Prov. 27:17)
9. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. Name some who were friends in the Bible.
b. Does the value of our friends lie in quality rather than quantity?
c. How did Jesus prove his friendship to us and how do we prove it to Him?
d. Give some passages which show that the Christian is to be friendly, kind, and given to
hospitality.
e. What is the great danger of evil friendships?
LESSON FIVE: INTEGRITY - THE POWER OF A GOOD NAME
1. What is to be chosen rather than great riches? (Prov. 22:1; see also Eccl. 7:1)
2. By what is the upright person guided? (Prov. 11:3)
3. How does the just person always walk? (Prov. 20:7)
4. A person shall never be established by what? (Prov. 12:3)
5. Out of what shall the righteous be delivered? (Prov. 11:8)
6. What is said of the "lip of truth"? (Prov. 12:19)
7. Which is said to be "better" in Prov. 19:1?
8. God compares the course of the just to what? (Prov. 4:18)
9. What is the reward of the sinner and the righteous? (Prov. 13:21)
10. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. Name and evaluate some of the prominent traits of character of a person of integrity.
b. Why are many more people of this type needed in civil government, homes, schools, and business?
c. What is the final goal of such a life?
LESSON SIX: PARENTS AND CHILDREN
1. What is the benefit of carefully training a child? (Prov. 22:6)
2. What should not be withheld from the child? (Prov. 23:13-14)
3. What will overcome foolishness in the heart of the child? (Prov. 22:15)
4. What is said of the parent who spares the rod and leaves a child to himself? (Prov. 13:24; 29:15)
5. What are children urged to do in Prov. 1:8 and Prov. 4:1?
6. What does the writer of Proverbs say of the eye who mocks his father and despises to obey his mother? (Prov. 30:17)
7. What does the fool despise? (Prov. 15:5)
8. What are some blessings which come to the wise and obedient young person? (Prov. 2:1-5)
9. What blessings come to the parents as result of the wise and obedient youth? (Prov. 10:1; 15:20; 23:15-16; 29:3)
10. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. Regarding 1 Tim. 5:8, what are some of those things which are to be provided?
b. List at least one passage in the N.T. which shows the parent's responsibility in training their children.
c. List at least one passage in the N.T. which shows the children's responsibility toward their
parents.
LESSON SEVEN: PRIDE - PERILS OF THE PROUD HEART
1. Out of the seven things which God hates (Prov. 6:16-19), which one fits our topic?
2. In what way does the Lord consider those who are proud in heart? (Prov. 16:5)
3. What is the name (names NASV) of the one who acts with arrogant pride? (Prov. 21:24)
4. What does Prov. 21:4 say that a proud heart is?
5. What is "better" in Prov. 16:19? See also Prov. 22:4)
6. What is "before" honor? (See Prov. 15:33; 18:12; 29:23)
7. From the following, list some of the warnings against pride:
a. Prov. 15:25
b. Prov. 16:18
c. Prov. 18:12
d. Prov 29:23
8. From the following, list some of the evils which come from pride:
a. Prov. 11:2
b. Prov. 13:10
c. Prov. 28:25
9. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. Which passages in the N.T. state that God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble?
b. What does the expression "pride of life" in 1 John 2:16 mean?
LESSON EIGHT: REPROOF - ACCEPTING JUST CRITICISM
1. Reproofs of instruction are said to be what? (Prov. 6:23)
2. How will a wise person react to rebuke? (Prov. 9:8-9; 17:10)
3. What are some blessings for accepting rebuke? (Prov. 15:32; 19:25)
4. What is a wise reprover to an obedient ear like? (Prov. 25:12)
5. Is it wise to reprove a scorner or a wicked person? (Prov. 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12)
6. What is said to be "better" in Prov. 27:5?
7. From Prov. 3:11-12, what does the Lord do regarding His children? (Prov. 3:11-12) Where is this quoted in the N.T.?
8. Give some of the evils and consequences for not accepting reproof?
a. Prov. 10:17
b. Prov. 12:1
c. Prov. 15:10
d. Prov. 29:1
9. Give some of the blessings of accepting and administering reproof?
a. Prov. 13:18
b. Prov. 15:5
c. Prov. 15:31
d. Prov. 24:24-25
e. Prov. 28:23
LESSON NINE: RICHES - THE DECEITFULNESS OF WEALTH
1. What shall the generous one have, and what will the one who withholds have? (Prov. 11:24- 26)
2. What two requests did Agur make? (Prov. 30:8-9)
3. In what are the rich prone to trust (Prov. 10:15; 18:11) and what will happen to those who do so? (Prov. 11:28)
4. When will or of what time will riches be of no benefit? (Prov. 11:4)
5. Explain 13:7. In what was does one have nothing and the other great riches?
6. What does Prov. 28:8 indicate will happen to the wealth of the one who has increased his possessions by interest and unjust gain?
7. What is the penalty of obtaining wealth by lying and robbery? (Prov. 21:6-7)
8. What will happen to the one who oppresses the poor to gain wealth? (Prov. 22:16)
9. Is there anything permanent about material wealth? (Prov. 27:24)
10. What is said of the danger of making haste to be rich? (Prov. 28:20)
11. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. Do the rich become satisfied with their riches? (Eccl. 5:10)
b. Why was the rich fool called a fool? (Luke 12:13-21)
c. What responsibility do the rich have? (1 Tim. 6:17-19)
LESSON TEN: STRIFE AND CONTENTION
1. Give a definition of the word "froward" in Prov. 6:12.
2. How long do such people devise wickedness? (Prov. 6:14)
3. What will happen to such trouble makers? (Prov. 6:15)
4. What will an angry man always stir up? (Prov. 15:18)
5. What does the ungodly man do? (Prov. 16:27)
6. Friends are often separated by what evil practice? (Prov. 16:28)
7. The lover of strife is a lover of what? (Prov. 17:19)
8. How does the writer of Proverbs speak of the person whose "lips enter into contention"? (Prov. 18:6-7)
9. When brethren are offended and contentions arise, is it difficult to overcome the barriers to fellowship and understanding? (Prov. 18:19)
10. In Prov. 20:3, it is an honor to do what?
11. What will happen when the scorner is cast out? (Prov. 22:10)
12. What is said of the one who meddles in strife that does not belong to him? (Prov. 26:17)
13. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. What was Paul's instructions regarding contentious matters? (1 Tim. 1:3-4; 4:7; 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 2:15-16, 23; Titus 3:9)
b. What is to be done with the divisive or factious person? (Titus 3:10-11)
LESSON ELEVEN: WISDOM - THE VALUE OF ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
1. What is calling and crying out to be heard? (Prov. 1:20-23; 8:1-5)
2. Should the young diligently seek after wisdom? (Prov. 2:1-5; 4:5-7)
3. What is the true source of wisdom? (Prov. 2:6-9)
4. Does wisdom afford many blessings? (Prov. 2:10-22; 3:13-18; 8:11-21)
5. Prov. 8:27 says, "When He prepared the heavens, I was there..." To whom or what is he referring?
6. What does instruction and teaching do for a wise person? (Prov. 9:9; 1:5; 21:11)
7. What should one do to gain wisdom? (Prov. 10:8; 12:15; 13:20)
8. What is found in the lips of the one who has understanding, and what do wise people store up? (Prov. 10:13-14)
9. With whom is wisdom said to be found? (Prov. 11:2; 14:6)
10. What should one buy and never sell? (Prov. 23:23)
11. Topics and questions for class discussion:
a. What did Paul pray regarding the saints at Colosse? (Col. 1:9)
b. Where are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge to be found? (Col. 2:1-3)
c. How does James characterize the wisdom which is from above? (James 3:13-18)
LESSON TWELVE: WOMEN - GODLY WOMEN WHO DESERVE TO BE PRAISED
1. What does a gracious woman retain? (Prov. 11:16)
2. What is the virtuous woman to her husband? (Prov. 12:4)
3. What will every wise woman do? (Prov. 14:1)
4. What is said regarding the one who finds a wife? (Prov. 18:22).
5. Does the writer of Proverbs teach a man to enjoy his wife? (Prov. 5:18-20)
6. What is said regarding a prudent wife? (Prov. 19:14)
7. As to the character and conduct of a virtuous woman, read Prov. 31:10-31 and answer the following:
a. Which verses tell of her: goodness to her husband________, hard work________, charity________, strength and honor________, the mouth of wisdom________, kindness of speech________, fear of God________?
b. Which verses speak of her rewards: she shall rejoice in time to come________, her children
shall call her blessed________, her husband praises her________, her own works praise
her________?
LESSON THIRTEEN: WORKING VERSUS LAZINESS
1. To whom should the sluggard go to be wise? (Prov. 6:6-8)
2. What is the inevitable result of too much sleep and idleness? (Prov. 6:9-11)
3. What will happen to the one who works with a slack hand? (Prov. 10:4; 19:15)
4. What will happen to the diligent? (Prov. 14:4; 13:4)
5. What is said of the son who sleeps in harvest? (Prov. 10:5)
6. A sluggard is as what to those who send him? (Prov. 10:26)
7. Are the sluggard's desires ever filled? (Prov. 13:4; 21:25-26)
8. The way of the slothful person is as what? (Prov. 15:19)
9. The slothful person is said to be a brother to whom? (Prov. 18:9; 12:27)
10. What did the writer say of the sluggard in 20:4?
11. Describe the field and condition of the wall of the lazy person. (Prov. 24:30-34)
12. Are his difficulties actual or imaginary? (Prov. 26:13-16; 22:13; 19:24)