The Book of Proverbs: The Wisdom of Words

Here is a basic, simply written commentary on Proverbs, aimed at Bible study groups. It takes a fresh look at the appeal that the book of Proverbs has come to have. It imaginatively examines the origin, development and usefulness of proverbs within the wisdom schools and savors the best of what our collective humanity has to offer in the hope of reaching out for that "higher wisdom" that descends from above. With a critical eye it evaluates Proverbs' attitude to women, wealth, and the worrisome use of speech as pitfalls on the road to wisdom. It gives readers an appreciation for proverbs as paradigms of literary excellence and as a veritable gold mine for speech writers and speech makers, as well as for anyone who wishes to try out his/her literary skills.

Michael A. Machado holds a doctorate from Duquesne University. Besides teaching, he served as head of the department of philosophy at Frostburg State University (MD) for 16 years. In 1992 he retired as professor emeritus at Frostburg State University. He resides in La Vale, MD.