Ah – Topical Index

Topical Index

As compiled in his commentary on Proverbs, Allen Ross has written a topical index that covers short sayings of the book as well as longer dialogs. Since the passages are most frequently complex – that is, showing a contrast, a “better than” statement, a consequence, or a development of ideas – it’s clear that they could each be listed under several topics. However, the headings chosen here attempt to focus on the main teaching of each passage, even though it may be clarified by contrasts and causes.

Ability, better than privilege (17:2)

Adversity, test of (24:10)

Advice:

following (23:26-28)

or a friend (27:9)

Associations:

dangerous (12:6, 17:12, 22:24-25)

evil (16:29, 24:1-2)

poor (23:20-21)

unprofitable (14:7)

with the wise or with fools (13:20)

Attention, renewed call to (23:12 and 19)

Bribery, success (17:8)

Business:

foolish indebtedness (6:1-5)

socially responsible (11:26)

Character traits (negative)

anger (29:22)

antisocial (18:1)

beauty without discretion (11:22)

blaming God (19:3)

distasteful (14:17)

greed versus trust (28:25)

hatred (29:27)

hot temper (19:19)

inappropriate positions (19:10)

jealousy (27:4)

laziness (26:13-15)

need verses desire (27:7)

pride (21 :4 and 24, 29:23, 30:13)

quarrelsomeness (26:21)

self-conceit (28:11)

self-glory (25:27)

self-righteousness (30:12)

stubbornness (29:1)

unfaithfulness (25:19)

unmerciful (21:13)

wicked (21:10)

wicked expressions (16:30)

Character traits (positive)

compassion for animals (12:10)

faithful love (20:6)

faithfulness (28:20)

humility (29:23)

integrity (25:26)

leadership (30:19-31)

loyalty (19:22)

noble wife (12:4)

praiseworthy (27:21)

reflected in thoughts (29:19)

self-control (17:27, 25:28, 29:11)

strength and honor (20:29)

strength in adversity (24:10)

teachable (15:31)

Conduct (negative)

cursing parents (20:20)

disrespect for parents (30:11)

gossip (26:20)

hated by God (6:16-19)

inappropriate (25:20)

malicious (16:27)

meddling (26:17, 30:10)

rejoicing over misfortunate (24:17-18)

robbing parents (28:24)

wicked (17:20)

Conduct (positive)

acceptable to God (15:9)

avoiding strife (20:3)

avoid unneighborliness (3:27-30)

beneficial for life (15:24)

brings life or death (11:19)

careful consideration (14:8)

consequence of (16:25)

develop moral skill and mental insight (1:2-6)

good and evil (10:11-14, 14:22)

hating falsehood or acting shamefully (13:5)

kindness to enemies (25:21-22)

moderation (26:16-17)

obedient versus reckless (28:7)

peaceful (16:7)

pleasing to God (11:20, 12:2)

righteous and wicked (11:5-6)

righteous versus self-sufficiency (28:26)

sinlessness (20:9)

straight course (15:21)

wise and foolish (10:8-10)

Confidence

in calamity (10:25, 14:32)

of the righteous (28:1)

Conscience, searching motives (20:27)

Contentment

healthy benefit of (14:30)

opposite of greed (15:27)

reward for righteousness (13:25)

Counsel

king’s (25:3)

needed for victory (24:5-6)

Criticism, helpful (27:17)

Desires, unsatisfiable (27:20, 30:15-16)

Deviousness, warning against (6:12-15)

Diligence

better than daydreaming (13:4)

lesson in (6:6-8)

motivation of (16:26)

opposite of idleness (10:5)

profitable (14:23)

progress of (15:19)

prospers (12:11)

results of (28:19, 31:22-24)

rewarded (20:13)

rules (12:24)

successful (12:27)

Discipline

acceptance of (12:1, 13:1)

effect of (19:25)

evidence of love (13:24)

lack of (29:21)

method of (29:19)

necessity of (15:10, 23:13-14)

parental (22:15)

physical (26:3)

rejected (15:12, 19:27)

spiritual value of (20:3)

value of to the discerning (17:10)

wisely heeded (15:5)

Dishonesty

effects of (20:17)

false witness (24:28)

Disputes

divinely arbitrated (18:18)

their effect (18:19)

Divine omniscience (15:3 and 11, 16:2, 17:3)

Drink

effects of (20:1)

excessive (23:29-35, 31:4-7)

Emotions

affect on health (17:22)

joy and sorrow (15:13 and 15)

joy when righteousness prevails (11:10)

love/hate (10:12)

mixed (14:13)

of a king (19:12, 20:2)

personal (14:10)

Encouragement, from rulers (16:15)

Envying, the wicked (24:19-20)

Evil

cautious avoidance (14:16)

disapproval (24:8-9)

protection from (2:12-19)

Faithfulness

appreciation (25:13)

blessing of (16:10)

rebuked (3:5-12, 5:15-17)

Family

child training (22:6)

mistreatment of parents (19:26, 30:17)

peaceful relationship (21:9 and 19, 25:24)

provisions for (31:19-21)

prudent wife (19:14)

ruin of (19:13)

Family relationships, quarrelsome wife (27:15-16)

Fear of ADONAI

advised (23:17-18)

beginning of knowledge (1:7, 9:10-11)

God and king (24:21-22)

godly (28:14)

life (14:27)

life-giving (10:27)

safety and contentment (19:23)

security (14:46)

uprightness (14:2)

wisdom and honor (15:33)

Finances

conditions of indebtedness (6:1-2)

release from indebtedness (6:3-5)

stability (24:27)

Foolishness

a grief to others (17:21)

death its consequences (9:18)

effect of on parents (17:25)

invitation of (9:13-17)

of adultery (5:20-23)

unalterable (27:22)

Fools

dangerous (26:10)

dense (24:7, 26:11)

persist in folly (26:11)

provocation of (27:3)

responding to (26:4-5)

useless as messengers (26:6)

use of proverbs (26:9)

Friends

helpful (27:10)

loyal in adversity (17:17)

Friendship

influential (19:6)

loyal (18:24)

marked by truthfulness (24:26)

Generosity

evidence of righteousness (21:26)

nature (22:9)

versus indifference (28:27)

Gifts, their influence (18:16)

Greed, effect of (28:22)

Guilt, effects of (28:17)

Honesty

approved by leaders (16:13)

better than pretension (13:7)

in business (11:1, 16:11, 20:10, 14, 23)

Honor

inappropriate to fools (26:1 and 8)

in family relationships (17:6)

parents (23:22)

Hospitality, unpleasant (23:6-8)

Human nature, God’s creation (20:12)

Humility

better than plunder (16:19)

better the self-importance (12:9)

confession of ignorance (30:2-4)

praise from others (27:2)

reward of (18:12)

wisdom of (25:6-7)

wise and honorable (11:2 and 29:33)

Immorality

results of (7:24-27)

warning against (6:20-35)

Injustice

abuse of position (30:21-23)

bribery (21:14 and 28:21)

denounced (18:5)

extortion and bribery (22:16)

Instruction

acceptance of (19:20)

benefits for life (13:14)

obedience to (19:16)

rejected for opinion (18:2)

reward for heeding (13:13)

Integrity

a preservation of (11:3)

heritage (20:7)

Judgment

certainty of (21:12 and 29:16)

divine (22:14)

just (21:18)

partiality in (24:23-25)

Justice

a king’s discernment (20:8)

corrupted (17:15)

corrupt witnesses (19:28)

cross-examination (18:17)

divine (15:25)

effects of (21:15)

for the poor (29:7)

for ungratefulness (17:13)

from ADONAI (29:26)

perceived (28:5)

perverted by bribes (17:23)

removing wickedness (20:26)

Kindness

better than cruelty (11:17)

brings respect (11:16)

Knowledge

basis of prudent acts (13:16)

divine (21:2)

evidence of forethought (14:18)

of ADONAI (2:5-8)

sought (18:15)

sought by the discerning (15:14)

stored up (10:13-14)

Law, respect for (28:4)

Laziness

avoidance (6:6-11)

consequences of (19:15)

effect of (18:9)

excuses of (22:13 and 26:13)

nature of (19:24)

outcome of (21:25)

results of (20:4 and 24:30-34)

trouble and poverty (11:29)

Life

amazing things in nature (30:18-19)

avoid ruin and regret (5:7-14)

from ADONAI (29:13)

preservation (24:11-12)

Love, shown by discretion (17:9)

Marriage, finances before (24:27)

Misfortune, of enemy (24:17-18)

Neighbors

avoid unneighborliness (3:27-30)

proper treatment of (14:21)

Obligations, fulfilled (20:16 and 27:13)

Parents

honoring (23:22)

obey father’s teaching (4:20-22 and 7:1-5)

Patience

effect of on strife (15:18)

more effective than power (16:32)

nature of (19:11)

opposite of quick temper (14:29)

Peace, value of (17:1)

Peity, reward of (22:4)

Plans

committed to ADONAI (16:3)

for evil or peace (12:20)

just and unjust (12:5)

pleasing to ADONAI (15:26)

sound advice (20:18)

uncertain future (27:1)

Pleasure

cost of (21:17)

good and evil (10:23)

Poor

susceptible to injustice (13:23)

treatment of (14:31, 22:22-23, 28:3, 29:14, 30:14, 31:8-9 and 20)

Poverty

better than foolishness (19:1)

danger of (6:9-11)

effect of (19:7 and 22:7)

Power, political (14:28)

Prayer

God’s response to (15:29)

of Agur (30:7-9)

of the lawless unanswered (28:9)

Pride

consequences of (16:18)

fall of (16:5)

Property, respect for (22:28 and 23:10-11)

Prospect for life

discouraging and encouraging (13:12)

endurance of the righteous (13:12)

fulfilled (13:19)

good or bad (11:23 and 16:22)

hopes and fears (10:24)

joy and ruin (10:28)

of the wicked (11:7)

realized desires (11:27)

Prosperity

ensured (14:11)

by fraud (21:6)

for generosity (11:24-25)

for righteous pursuits (12:12)

honest investment (13:11)

in business (14:4 and 31:16-18)

in the household (14:1)

patient planning (21:5)

reward of the righteous (13:21)

sudden but unsatisfying (20:21)

through words and works (12:14)

Protection

from evil men (2:12-15)

from evil women (2:16-19)

Providence

divine (20:24)

searched out (25:2)

Punishment

certain (22:8)

unjust (17:26)

Quarrels, private (25:9-10)

Reparation (14:9)

Repentance, effectual (28:13)

Reputation, good (10:7 and 22:1)

Restitution, by divine intervention (13:22)

Retribution

by ADONAI (20:22)

certainty of (11:21 and 31, 17:11, 19:29, 26:26-27)

divine (16:4)

just (11:8 and 21:7)

present in deeds (14:14)

vengeance (24:29)

Revelation

obedience to (29:18)

reliable (30:5-6)

Rewards

contentment for righteous (13:25)

for charity (19:17)

for righteousness (15:6)

for service (27:18)

just (28:10)

just earned (11:18)

life or ruin (10:16)

long life (16:31)

satisfaction of needs (10:3)

victory over the wicked (14:19)

words of blessing (10:6)

Righteous

enablement for living (2:20-22)

treatment of (24:15-16)

Righteousness

effect of on morale (29:2)

better than unjust wealth (16:8 and 28:6)

better than wealth (11:4)

brings life (11:30)

brings security (13:6)

brings stability (12:3)

concentration on (4:23-27)

displayed in actions (20:11)

enablement for living (2:20-22)

genuineness of (21:29)

hated by the wicked (29:10)

in government (28:12)

leads to immortality (12:28)

national (14:34)

prevention of evil (16:17)

priority of (21:3)

pursuit of (4:10-13 and 23-27)

revealed in works (21:8)

rewards of (21:21)

security (11:5-6)

stability in government (16:12)

value of (10:2)

Rulers

caution before (23:1-2)

emotions of (20:2)

good versus bad (28:16)

oppressive (28:3)

wicked (28:15)

Scolding

a part of love (27:5)

preferable to flattery (28:23)

value of (27:6)

Security

abandoned (27:8)

based on integrity (28:18)

faith in ADONAI (29:25)

knowledge of ADONAI and His protection (2:5-8)

object of faith (11:28)

of the righteous (10:30, 12:7 and 21, 29:6)

the Name of ADONAI (18:10)

the way of ADONAI (10:29)

through justice (29:4)

through wisdom (22:5)

wealth (18:11)

Seduction

avoided with wisdom (5:3-6 and 7:1-27)

deadly results of (2:24-27)

description of (7:6-23)

prevention of (5:7-14)

warning against (5:1-6 and 6:25-35)

Servants

clever or incompetent (14:35)

lazy (10:26)

wicked or faithful (13:17)

Sin

adultery (30:20)

effect of (18:3)

entanglements of (29:24)

freedom from (16:6)

Skill, benefits of (22:29)

Sovereignty of God (16:9 and 33, 19:21, 21:1-30-32, 22:2 and 12)

Speech (general)

effects of (14:3)

helpful or harmful (11:11, 13:2, 15:4)

humble or harsh (18:23)

pleasing or perverse (10:32)

true and false witnesses (12:17, 14:5-25, 21:28)

wise or foolish (10:13-14 and 15:2)

wise or willful (10:31)

wounding or healing (12:18)

Speech (negative)

arrogant and contentious (17:19)

bragging (25:14)

consequences of (18:7 and 21)

dangerous (12:13)

deceptive (26:18-19, 23, and 28, 29:5)

dishonest (17:7)

divisive (16:28)

false witness (19:5, 24:28, 25:18)

foolish (10:10)

gossip (18:8, 20:19, 26:22)

harmful (15:4)

hypocritical (26:24-25)

inappropriate greeting (27:14)

lies (29:12)

lies and slander (10:18)

malicious (17:4)

mocking the poor (17:5)

perjury (19:9)

premature (18:13)

rash vows (20:25, 22:26-27, 29:20)

sly words (25:23)

that invites trouble (18:6)

the scoffer (9:7-8)

undeserved curse (26:2)

Speech (positive)

appropriate (15:23)

avoid pledges (11:15)

beneficial (16:24)

carefully planned (15:28)

cautious testimony (25:8)

competent (16:21)

conciliatory (15:1)

controlled (10:19 and 21:23)

discretion (12:23)

divine enablement (16:1)

edifying (10:21)

encouraging (12:25)

good advice (11:14)

good news (15:30 and 25:25)

helpful (15:4)

honest and graceful (22:11)

keeping confidence (11:13)

patient and mild (25:15)

productive (18:20)

profound (18:4 and 25:11)

rebuke (9:8-9 and 25:12)

responsible (16:10)

safety from slander (11:9)

silence rather than ridicule (11:12)

skillful defense (12:6)

spreading knowledge (15:7)

truth outlasts lies (12:19)

truth pleases ADONAI (12:22)

valuable (10:20)

value of advice (15:22)

wisdom of discretion (13:3)

wisdom of silence (17:28)

wise (16:23)

wise and joyful (23:15-16)

wise words (20:15)

Spirit, healthy (18:14)

Stability

financial (24:27)

in government (20:28 and 28:2)

righteous government (28:28)

through righteousness (25:4-5)

Strife

aggravated (29:9)

controlled (17:14)

source of (22:10)

Teaching, vindicated (27:11)

Truthfulness, a mark of friendship (24:26)

Vengeance, avoid (24:29)

Vows, rash (22:26-27)

Wealth

a benefit of the wise (14:24)

a blessing (10:22)

avoid easy but unjust (1:10-19)

disadvantages of (13:8)

effect of (19:4)

fleeting (23:4-5)

popularity of (14:20)

security (10:15)

spiritual better than physical (15:16-17)

through diligence (10:4)

transitory (27:23-27)

unjustly gained (1:10-19 and 28:8)

Wickedness

avoid (4:14-19)

brazen woman (30:20)

not to be emulated (3:31-35 and 4:14-19)

Wife

a blessing (18:22)

focus of attention (5:15-19)

noble (31:10-31)

satisfaction with (5:18-19)

Wisdom

accepts discipline (13:1)

accepts rebuke (9:8-9)

acquire traditional (4:1-4a)

admonished (1:8-9, 2:1-4, 3:1-4, 4:1-4a and 20-22)

appeal of (8:1-36)

appreciation of (12:8)

averting anger (29:8)

avoiding trouble (22:3)

benefits of acquiring (4:4b-9)

benefits of seeking (2:1-22 and 8:32-36)

better than wealth (16:16)

consequences of receiving (2:5-22)

description of responses to (9:7-11)

effect of on others (10:1 and 15:20)

effect of on the family (29:3)

essential to creation (3:19-20 and 8:22-31)

estimation of (23:23-25)

exemplified in noble woman (31:10-31)

frugality of (21:20)

future of (24:13-14)

greater than strength (21:22 and 24:5-6)

importance of (21:16)

inaccessible to fools (17:16 and 24:7)

in appeasing wrath (16:14)

in business (17:18)

invitation of (8:1-5, 10, 32-36, and 9:1-6)

longevity (3:21-26)

most valuable possession (3:13-18)

motivation for (8:10-21)

noble, just, and true (8:6-9)

obedient (10:8)

overlooks insults (12:16)

possessor of (14:33)

practicality of (24:3-4)

profitable (19:8)

response of the scoffer (9:7-8a)

response of the wise person (9:8b-11)

reward of (9:12)

takes advice (12:15 and 13:10)

the purpose of Proverbs (1:2-6)

those who acquire it (14:6)

warning against despising (1:20-33)

wary of evil (27:12)

wasted on a fool (23:9)

Witness, false (24:28 and 25:18)

Worldliness, destruction of (14:12)

Worship

acceptable (15:8a)

unacceptable (15:8b and 21:27)

Zeal without knowledge (19:2)⁸