在聖經中，如同在許多其他文化中一樣，智慧是一種實踐能力，不只是思辨能力而已；例如，製作珍貴物品或耕耘田地的技藝。就人類生活而言，智慧是過好生活、建立良好人際關係、營造幸福家庭、培養智慧子女的藝術和能力：這仍然是一種實踐能力，只不過這次是指向個人的生活,這方向。

箴言是智慧的重要工具，如同行業工具一般。

它們簡短易記，在需要時非常實用。

《箴言書》收錄了許多這樣的箴言，並簡要介紹了以色列的智慧歷史。

我們今天讀到的每一條箴言都蘊含著深刻的教導。

例如：「人對自己的行為，都自覺正直；但審察人心的，卻是上主。」 這句箴言告誡我們，永遠不要過於確信自己所想的是正確的，而要始終尋求天主的旨意。

In the Bible, as in many other cultures, wisdom is a practical, rather than a speculative ability; as an example: the art of producing valuable objects or cultivating well the fields. When considered in connection with human life, wisdom is the art and ability of leading a good life, fostering positive relationships, creating a happy family, raising wise children: still a practical ability, this time directed towards one’s life.

Important tools of wisdom, like the tools of trade, are proverbs. They are short, easy to remember, useful when needed.

The Book of Proverbs collects many such proverbs. It offers a short history of wisdom in Israel.

Each of the short proverbs we read today offer us deep teachings.

Let us take an example: “A man’s conduct may strike him as upright, the Lord, however, weighs the heart.” This proverb suggests us never to be too sure that what we think is right, always to seek the Lord’s mind.