Starting in Proverbs chapter 8, King Solomon, the author of Proverbs, emphasizes wisdom regularly. Known as “Solomon the Wise,” he says that wisdom is the basis of civil rulership and everybody who hates wisdom loves death. 

Similar to earlier chapters in Proverbs, chapter 10 focuses more on God’s sanctions. The text states that God’s rewards and punishments will be predictable, but if you do not follow God’s rules, you will lose your inheritance, while the righteous will still gain their inheritance. 

Between Proverbs chapter 10 and 31, the verses about sanctions and wisdom are again reinforced in chapter 30 with King Solomon talking about how God’s word will always be pure, but He will give you negative sanctions in life if you disobey Him. The next chapter instructs Kings to avoid alcohol and only marry virtuous women. 

The two main themes of Proverbs are wisdom and sanctions. Virtuous men love wisdom and will strife to attain it, but some hate wisdom and will see the wrath of God. If you keep God’s commandments and do the right thing in all situations, then you will get a seat in heaven next to the Lord. Another theme stated multiple times is the importance of working for God, with Solomon explaining that you need to labor like an ant and do good works to please God. 

Inheritance of God’s kingdom will be taken away from those who disobey his word and  break away from God. Much of biblical literature is a warning of what will happen if you do not follow God, and a reward for what will happen if you obey God’s judgment.