12.  The place of the book of Proverbs in the system of divine revelation is obvious at first sight.  It contains a complete code of practical rules for the regulation of life—­rules that have a divine breadth and fulness, and can make men wise not for time alone, but also for eternity.  The principles embodied in them admit of endlessly varied applications, so that the study of a life cannot exhaust them.  The more they are pondered, and prayed over, and reduced to practice, the more are their hidden treasures of wisdom brought to light.  Solomon lived himself in the sphere of practical life.  He had constantly to deal with men of all classes, and he knew men and the course of human events most thoroughly.  His maxims are therefore adapted to the actual world, not to some imaginary state of things; and they contain those broad principles of action which meet the wants of all men in all circumstances and conditions of life.  Whoever gives himself, in the fear of God, to the study of these proverbs, and conforms his life to the principles which they set forth, will be a truly happy and prosperous man.  Whoever shapes his conduct by different principles will be compelled in the end to acknowledge his folly.  To the young, for whose instruction they were especially intended, they are affectionately commended as their manual of action.

13.  In respect to outward form, the book of Proverbs naturally falls into four parts.  Of these, the first nine chapters, consisting of earnest and fatherly exhortations addressed to the young in a series of discourses, of which the parts are more or less connected with each other, constitute the first part.  The title prefixed to this part, giving both the author’s name and the end which he proposes (1:1-6) refers perhaps to the book considered as a whole.  The second part, introduced by the title:  “The proverbs of Solomon,” extends to the end of the twenty-fourth chapter.  Of this, the first section (chaps. 10-22:16) consists of proverbs properly so called, each verse constituting a separate maxim of heavenly wisdom for the regulation of the heart and life.  Between the different verses there is either no connection, or one of a slight and casual character, consisting frequently in the common occurrence of the same word.  In the remaining section (chap. 22:17-24:34) the method of exhortation in discourse more or less connected is resumed.  To the third part (chaps. 25-29) is prefixed the superscription:  “These are also the proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah copied out.”  The proverbs of this part are, in general, expressed in detached maxims, as in the first section of the second part; but occasionally there is a connection between adjacent verses.  There is also an effort to bring together related proverbs, as those concerning rulers (25:1-8); concerning fools (26:1-12); concerning sluggards (26:13-16); concerning busybodies and tale-bearers (chap. 26:17-28).  In this part also a number of proverbs are repeated that have occurred elsewhere.  Finally, the fourth part, which may be considered as a sort of appendix, contains the words of Agur (chap. 30), and of King Lemuel (chap. 31).