Recent Proverbs Commentaries

1. Garrett, Duane A. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Nashville: Broadman, 1993.

Baptist; New American Commentary

Helpful for literary analysis and structural issues

2. Davis, Ellen F. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2000.

Episcopalian; Westminster Bible Commentary

Straightforward. Written for laity. Good insights. Ecological and churchly concerns evident.

3. Clifford, Richard J. Proverbs. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1999.

Catholic; Old Testament Library

Scholarly. Good on rhetoric. Can be helpful at times.

4. Van Leeuwen, Raymond C. in Leander E. Keck et al. New Interpreter's Bible: The Book of Proverbs,

the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Book of Wisdom, The Book of Sirach. Nashville: Abingdon, 1997.

Prof at Eastern College in Pennsylvania; The New Interpreter’s Bible

Helpful. Balanced. Often insightful. A good book for your library.

5. Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 1-9. Anchor Bible 18A. New York: Doubleday, 2000.

Jewish; Anchor Bible

Most scholarly of all. Can learn a great deal. Has strong opinions.

6. Perdue, Leo G. Proverbs. Louisville: John Knox, 2000.

President and prof at Brite Civinity School, Texas Christian University; Interpretation

My favorite of the commentaries. Balanced. Scholarly and Churchly.

Good section on “features of sapiential imagination.”