Kicking off our look at the Proverbs 31 woman: what it means to be an “excellent wife” whose strength, character, and godly influence make her worth far above jewels.

What if our culture valued a woman’s character above her appearance? A look at Proverbs 31 and the case for putting character first.

Pride, anger, and plotting evil might not bring immediate consequences, but Proverbs 30 warns they store up trouble for the end. A look at why foolishness like this is worth taking seriously.

The ant, the hyrax, the locust, and the lizard: four small creatures Proverbs 30 calls unusually wise. What their example teaches us about the “bigger is better” mindset our culture loves.

A slave who becomes king, a fool who prospers, an unloved woman who marries, a servant who replaces her mistress: Proverbs 30 names four reversals so jarring they make the earth tremble.

“Never slander a worker to the employer” (Proverbs 30:10). A look at how this ancient warning against gossip protects the most vulnerable among us.

“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but only my daily bread” (Proverbs 30:8). Why the writer’s prayer for just enough, not too much and not too little, is a lesson in contentment.

“Every word of God proves true” (Proverbs 30:5). A look at why Scripture warns us not to add to or take away from what God has said.

“The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly” (Proverbs 29:27). Why the tension between these two paths isn’t a problem to be solved, but a reality to understand.

“Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord” (Proverbs 29:26). Why true justice can’t be found in courts or officials alone.

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety” (Proverbs 29:25). A look at how the fear of man quietly snares us, and the way out.

“Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor” (Proverbs 29:23). A look at why an inflated view of ourselves is a warning sign, not a strength.

“There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking” (Proverbs 29:20). Why thinking before we speak matters as much as looking before we leap.

“Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded” (Proverbs 29:19). A look at what to do when someone hears you but won’t respond.

“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild” (Proverbs 29:18). What the Paris Olympics opening ceremony revealed about a culture without a word from God.

“When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall” (Proverbs 29:16). Why wickedness in power is never the final word.

“If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked” (Proverbs 29:12). In an age of fake news and AI, why a hunger for truth matters more than ever.

“A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (Proverbs 29:11). Why our anger is often less about the situation and more about needing control.

“The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them” (Proverbs 29:10). Why integrity provokes hostility in a fallen world, going back to Cain and Abel.

“Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger” (Proverbs 29:8). Why cynicism spreads so easily, and what it costs a community.