The Books of Psalms and Proverbs

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Let's make some comparisons.

1. Compare and contrast the differences and similarities of the Books of Psalms and Proverbs. Thank you BrainMass.

David wrote the Book of Psalms, whereas Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs. In fact, the book of Proverbs bears the inspired title: "Proverbs of Solomon, son of David" (chapter 1:1). Solomon is also mentioned as poet in chap. 10:1 and 25:1. In chapter 22:17 and 24:23 the proverbs (contained in the sections following these verses) are called "words of the wise". Finally chapters 30:1 and 31:1 mention Agur and Lemuel as poets of the proverbs. We do not know anything, however, about their identity.

As David was the greatest poet of Psalms, so Solomon was the greatest poet of Proverbs. First Kings 4:29-34 states: "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country (JND: sons of the east), and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spoke three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall: he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."http://www.biblecentre.org/commentaries/ar_24_ot_proverbs.htm

Only around a thousand of Solomon's proverbs are collected in the book of Proverbs and were maintained by divine inspiration and preservation. King Hezekiah's men collected some of Solomon's proverbs only 200 years later (compare Proverbs 25:1). Also Solomon has probably not compiled all proverbs but taken over already known proverbs by the wise (compare chap. 22:17; 24:23). The same implies for the "appendix" in Proverbs 30 and 31 where the name of Agur and Lemuel appear. Solomon has therefore more likely collected the words of these men than just added them later. Solomon reigned around 970 to 931 BC and Hezekiah (in whose time many ancient things came to honour) around 716 to 687 BC. This fixes the beginning and the end of the book's origin. http://www.biblecentre.org/commentaries/ar_24_ot_proverbs.htm

Purpose of Writings Differ

The Book of Proverbs is concerned with wisdom, whereas Psalms is considered prophetic (Messianic). Psalms is a collection of songs and poems of David and others, dealing with just about every human emotion. In contrast, Proverbs is a collection of some of Solomon's wise sayings, which are always fun. However, Solomon does not deal with human emotions like David did in the Book of Psalms.

Instead of being emotional in nature, in the Book of Proverbs, maxims (or aphorisms) played an important part, as it did in antiquity (Greeks, etc.). The Book of Proverbs of Solomon in the Holy Scriptures considers the fear of Jehovah as aim, which is the beginning of wisdom. The book of Proverbs shows what the god-fearing man in this world shall seek and what he shall avoid. The book also teaches that man irrespective of his spiritual blessings under the government of God will reap what he has sowed. It contains the advice of divine wisdom for daily life of a god-fearing man in all his difficulties, trials, dangers and joys of his way over this earth. The Proverbs (written by Solomon, the king of peace) also bear certain parallels to the principles of the kingdom of God as the Lord Jesus has set them forth in the so-called Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 5-7. The divine wisdom, which is so often mentioned in Proverbs, and which in chap. 8 and 9 even speaks to the reader in personified manner even finds its perfect expression in the NT in the Person of Christ, the Son of God (1 Cor. 1:30).http://www.biblecentre.org/commentaries/ar_24_ot_proverbs.htm

Similar to Proverbs, the Psalms particularly speak to the Bible-reader because the sentiments of God fearing men are expressed more than in other books of the Scriptures, be it in prayer, in confession, in praises or in grief. In many of these situations the Bible reader finds himself and therefore is especially attracted and spoken to by the Psalms.
However, the purpose is prophetic, which ...