PROVERBS

“It is not a portrait-album or a book of manners: it offers a key to life. The samples of behaviour which it holds up to view are all assessed by one criterion, which could be summed up in the question, ‘Is this wisdom or folly?’”

                                                                                                                               —Derek Kidner

    MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Pr 1:1

The MacArthur Study Bible indicates:
The title in the Hebrew Bible is “The Proverbs of Solomon” (1:1), as also in the Greek Septuagint (LXX). Proverbs pulls together the most important 513 of the over 3,000 proverbs pondered by Solomon (1Ki 4:32; Ecc 12:9), along with some proverbs of others whom Solomon likely influenced. The word “proverb” means “to be like,” thus Proverbs is a book of comparisons between common, concrete images and life’s most profound truths. Proverbs are simple, moral statements (or illustrations) that highlight and teach fundamental realities about life. Solomon sought God’s wisdom (2Ch 1:8–12) and offered “pithy sayings” designed to make men contemplate 1) the fear of God and 2) living by His wisdom (1:7; 9:10). The sum of this wisdom is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ (1Co 1:30).

MacArthur, John: The MacArthur Study Bible : New American Standard Bible. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006, S. Ps 150:6

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
                                                                                                                                     Prov 1:7 (NIV)

This is the central theme of Pr. The "fear of the LORD" involves worship of the Lord and respectful submission to His authority in every area of life. It is this reverence of the Lord, according to Pr, that constitutes the only sure foundation for the pursuit of knowledge.
                                                                                                         —Apologetics Study Bible, The