The word 'proverb' typically refers to a short, clever saying that offers some kind of wisdom: this book has a lot of those. The book is linked to King Solomon who, in 1 Kings 3-4, asked God for wisdom to lead Israel well; and so he became known as the wisest man in the ancient world. Not all of Proverbs is written by him personally, but he is where Israel's wisdom tradition began. The opening words of the book tell us that, by reading it, we too can obtain wisdom, knowledge of how to live well in God's world, and it all begins with the fear of the Lord (Pvbs 1: 7)