Proverbs in 31 days
Proverbs is a collection of short sayings about how to live, most of them attributed to Solomon, with sections from other named teachers (Agur, King Lemuel's mother) and some copied out centuries later by Hezekiah's scribes. It is not a book of promises. 'Train up a child in the way he should go' is a general observation about how life usually works, not a guarantee. Proverbs itself says as much: Psalm 73 and the book of Job exist because sometimes it doesn't.
Thirty-one chapters, thirty-one days. People have read it this way for a long time, matching the chapter to the date. The first nine chapters are long speeches from a father to a son about two paths. From chapter 10 on, it becomes one-liners, and reading a whole chapter of those fast is like eating a bag of sweets in one go. Ten minutes is enough. Read the chapter, pick one line, and carry it around for the day.
Expect it to be blunt about sex, money, alcohol, and laziness, in language that hasn't dated much. Expect a lot about your mouth: what you say, when you say it, and when to shut it. And expect two sayings to sit side by side that flatly contradict each other (chapter 26, verses 4 and 5). That's the point. Wisdom is knowing which one applies today.
The schedule
Tap a passage to open that book. Read in any translation you like; the app shows each day in Gen Z beside the original.
| Day | Read | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.' A father warns his son about the crowd that says 'come with us'. Wisdom shouts in the street and gets ignored. | 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.' A father warns his son about the crowd that says 'come with us'. Wisdom shouts in the street and gets ignored. |
| 2 | Seek wisdom 'as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures'. It's something you dig for, not something that falls on you. | Seek wisdom 'as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures'. It's something you dig for, not something that falls on you. |
| 3 | 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart.' Also: don't despise discipline, don't withhold good when it's in your power to do it, and 'your sleep will be sweet'. | 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart.' Also: don't despise discipline, don't withhold good when it's in your power to do it, and 'your sleep will be sweet'. |
| 4 | 'Get wisdom. Get understanding.' The path of the righteous is like dawn light getting brighter. 'Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.' | 'Get wisdom. Get understanding.' The path of the righteous is like dawn light getting brighter. 'Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.' |
| 5 | A whole chapter on adultery, and it's blunt: honey on the lips at the start, wormwood at the end. 'Rejoice in the wife of your youth.' | A whole chapter on adultery, and it's blunt: honey on the lips at the start, wormwood at the end. 'Rejoice in the wife of your youth.' |
| 6 | Go to the ant, sluggard. Seven things the LORD hates, and lying makes the list twice. Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not get burned? | Go to the ant, sluggard. Seven things the LORD hates, and lying makes the list twice. Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not get burned? |
| 7 | A scene watched from a window: a young man 'void of understanding' passes her corner at twilight. Told like a short film, and it ends at the slaughterhouse. | A scene watched from a window: a young man 'void of understanding' passes her corner at twilight. Told like a short film, and it ends at the slaughterhouse. |
| 8 | Wisdom speaks for herself. She was there 'before the mountains were settled', a craftsman at God's side, 'rejoicing in his whole world'. Wisdom here is joyful, not stern. | Wisdom speaks for herself. She was there 'before the mountains were settled', a craftsman at God's side, 'rejoicing in his whole world'. Wisdom here is joyful, not stern. |
| 9 | Two women, two houses, two dinner invitations. Wisdom and Folly both call out 'whoever is simple, let him turn in here'. Only one of the tables leads anywhere. | Two women, two houses, two dinner invitations. Wisdom and Folly both call out 'whoever is simple, let him turn in here'. Only one of the tables leads anywhere. |
| 10 | The one-liners begin. 'Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.' 'He who restrains his lips does wisely.' Each line stands on its own, so read slowly. | The one-liners begin. 'Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.' 'He who restrains his lips does wisely.' Each line stands on its own, so read slowly. |
| 11 | Honest scales, humility before wisdom, a gold ring in a pig's snout. 'There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.' | Honest scales, humility before wisdom, a gold ring in a pig's snout. 'There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.' |
| 12 | 'Whoever loves correction loves knowledge.' 'Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.' And a righteous person cares how their animals are treated. | 'Whoever loves correction loves knowledge.' 'Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.' And a righteous person cares how their animals are treated. |
| 13 | 'Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.' 'One who walks with wise men grows wise.' Your company shapes you. | 'Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.' 'One who walks with wise men grows wise.' Your company shapes you. |
| 14 | 'There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.' 'The heart knows its own bitterness.' 'Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful.' | 'There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.' 'The heart knows its own bitterness.' 'Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful.' |
| 15 | 'A gentle answer turns away wrath.' 'Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.' Half this chapter is about how you talk. | 'A gentle answer turns away wrath.' 'Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.' Half this chapter is about how you talk. |
| 16 | 'A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.' 'Pride goes before destruction.' 'One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.' | 'A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.' 'Pride goes before destruction.' 'One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.' |
| 17 | 'A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.' 'A cheerful heart makes good medicine.' 'Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.' | 'A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.' 'A cheerful heart makes good medicine.' 'Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.' |
| 18 | 'He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.' 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.' 'There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' | 'He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.' 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.' 'There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' |
| 19 | 'It is his glory to overlook an offense.' 'There are many plans in a man's heart, but the LORD's counsel will prevail.' 'He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD.' | 'It is his glory to overlook an offense.' 'There are many plans in a man's heart, but the LORD's counsel will prevail.' 'He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD.' |
| 20 | 'Wine is a mocker.' 'Who can say, I have made my heart pure?' 'Don't say, I will pay back evil. Wait for the LORD.' Also a painfully accurate line about haggling. | 'Wine is a mocker.' 'Who can say, I have made my heart pure?' 'Don't say, I will pay back evil. Wait for the LORD.' Also a painfully accurate line about haggling. |
| 21 | 'The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.' Twice: better to live on the roof, or in a desert, than in a house full of quarrelling. 'Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will also cry out, but shall not be heard.' | 'The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.' Twice: better to live on the roof, or in a desert, than in a house full of quarrelling. 'Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will also cry out, but shall not be heard.' |
| 22 | 'A good name is more desirable than great riches.' 'The borrower is servant to the lender.' Don't befriend a hot-tempered man, or you'll learn his ways. | 'A good name is more desirable than great riches.' 'The borrower is servant to the lender.' Don't befriend a hot-tempered man, or you'll learn his ways. |
| 23 | Don't wear yourself out to get rich; it sprouts wings and flies off. Don't envy sinners. And the most vivid hangover in the Bible: 'When will I wake up? I can do it again.' | Don't wear yourself out to get rich; it sprouts wings and flies off. Don't envy sinners. And the most vivid hangover in the Bible: 'When will I wake up? I can do it again.' |
| 24 | 'A righteous man falls seven times and rises up again.' 'Don't rejoice when your enemy falls.' The sluggard's vineyard, overgrown with nettles, its wall broken down. | 'A righteous man falls seven times and rises up again.' 'Don't rejoice when your enemy falls.' The sluggard's vineyard, overgrown with nettles, its wall broken down. |
| 25 | Copied out by Hezekiah's men. 'A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.' Singing songs to a heavy heart is like vinegar on soda. Feed your enemy. | Copied out by Hezekiah's men. 'A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.' Singing songs to a heavy heart is like vinegar on soda. Feed your enemy. |
| 26 | 'Don't answer a fool according to his folly.' 'Answer a fool according to his folly.' Back to back, on purpose. A dog returns to its vomit. 'Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.' | 'Don't answer a fool according to his folly.' 'Answer a fool according to his folly.' Back to back, on purpose. A dog returns to its vomit. 'Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.' |
| 27 | 'Don't boast about tomorrow.' 'The wounds of a friend are faithful.' 'Iron sharpens iron.' 'A man's eyes are never satisfied.' Know the state of your flocks. | 'Don't boast about tomorrow.' 'The wounds of a friend are faithful.' 'Iron sharpens iron.' 'A man's eyes are never satisfied.' Know the state of your flocks. |
| 28 | 'The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.' 'He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.' | 'The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.' 'He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.' |
| 29 | 'A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.' 'The fear of man proves to be a snare.' 'Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.' | 'A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.' 'The fear of man proves to be a snare.' 'Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.' |
| 30 | Agur, who opens by calling himself the most ignorant man alive. 'Give me neither poverty nor riches.' Four things too amazing for him, and four small wise things: ants, hyraxes, locusts, a lizard. | Agur, who opens by calling himself the most ignorant man alive. 'Give me neither poverty nor riches.' Four things too amazing for him, and four small wise things: ants, hyraxes, locusts, a lizard. |
| 31 | King Lemuel's mother tells him to speak up for those who can't. Then the woman of verses 10 to 31: buys a field, runs a business, 'laughs at the time to come'. 'Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain.' | King Lemuel's mother tells him to speak up for those who can't. Then the woman of verses 10 to 31: buys a field, runs a business, 'laughs at the time to come'. 'Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain.' |