Proverbs by Derek Kidner helps readers turn daily choices toward godliness when they cultivate wisdom in the fear of the LORD. Biblical wisdom is godliness in working clothes, the controlling principle that orders ordinary life. Wisdom shows up on Mondays and in living rooms, not only in lectures or crises. Kidner integrates revelation, discipleship, and prudence, and exposes the dead ends of folly.

This book…

Trains discernment for ordinary decisions under God’s rule through character formation rather than mere problem-solving.

• Why this matters: It anchors choices in covenant theology, helping leaders coach others with both hope and urgency.
• Who it’s for: Pastors and aspirational lay leaders who need to apply Scripture concretely in counseling and teaching.
• Between the lines: Frequent text-critical notes may unsettle newer readers.
• At a glance:
  • Pages: 192
  • Published: 2018
  • Genre: Biblical Commentary
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • My Rating: 4.33/5

Cultivate Wisdom for Everyday Choices

I first read this for a class. It reshaped how I study Scripture. The richest material sits in the first fifty pages, with gems scattered later. After that, some notes read like endnotes more than teaching.

Overview

Proverbs by Derek Kidner helps readers turn daily choices toward godliness by cultivating wisdom. Wisdom works on Mondays and in living rooms, not only in lectures or crises. Because the fear of the LORD steadies the heart, ordinary decisions gain clarity and courage.

Kidner traces Proverbs by movements and recurring characters. You meet the wise, the simple, the fool, the sluggard, friends, and the strange woman. Proverbs use contrast and consequence to train discernment. As a result, you learn to spot paths, not just verses, and to choose well under pressure.

Strengths

Kidner puts godliness in working clothes by keeping the fear of the LORD at the center. So faith governs money, words, friendships, sex, and work in concrete steps. He also maps the character spectrum—from simple to fool to scoffer—which clarifies coaching pathways and helps leaders confront drift with hope and urgency. His counsel on speech sticks because calm, brief, apt words nourish and cool the heat, which builds trust. Finally, his treatment of chapter 8 lifts the eyes without losing Monday’s choices; joy flows where God’s wisdom orders life, so devotion and decisions align.

Cautions

Text‑critical notes can unsettle newer readers. It would have been best to move them to brief footnotes, then keep exposition on the received text. Also, there could be a better balance regarding the word “life” as a present‑life focus and eternal horizons, especially when you note verses such as Proverbs 11:7 and 14:32.

Quotations

• “You have to be godly to be wise.” (p. 30)
• “Wisdom puts godliness into working clothes.” (p. 33)
• “Your character is the one thing you cannot borrow.” (p. 76)

Takeaways

Start where Kidner starts: cultivate the fear of the LORD in daily choices. Using simple habits such as naming your following action before ending each work block to cut sloth at the root and carry momentum into tomorrow, or anticipating tense replies by first pausing, praying, and capping your response to two sentences to lower heat, protect unity, and model wise speech. Moving beyond simple habits, adopt some vital changes like inviting two wise voices into any decision with real risk, because shared counsel exposes blind spots and prevents rushed moves. 

Conclusion

Proverbs by Derek Kidner will help you form discernment for everyday faithfulness by anchoring choices in the fear of the LORD and turning doctrine into concrete practice. Whether for personal study or as an aid to help you prepare Bible lessons or sermons, you should consider this valuable resource. 

Related Material

• Wisdom’s Power: Fear, Covetousness, and Holiness — fear of the LORD as wisdom’s foundation, matching the review’s thesis
• Wisdom’s Cost: The Price of Discipleship — the cost of pursuing wisdom, sharpening everyday discernment
• Transformative Trust: Seven Divine Benefits — trusting the LORD in decisions, turning doctrine into action