13 Wise Proverbs to Guide Your Daily Walk

God gave His Word to the world in order to show people the way to a right relationship with Him, to provide comfort, and to instill wisdom, among many other purposes. Different books of the Bible and passages in it speak to different situations and phases of life. But sometimes a believer just needs advice for the day to day, when everything feels stagnant, or they want tools to be their best in the mundane.

God inspired King Solomon, King David, and others to write books containing much wisdom. The book of Proverbs contains many idioms with good advice on how to go through life. Some of them are situational, but many are good encouragement and guidance for daily life.

13 Proverbs to Guide Your Daily Walk

1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

In the day to day, go the Lord for wisdom, guidance, and council. When there is a question you can’t answer, go to the one with all the answers! The Lord will direct those who call on Him away from evil and toward Him.

2. “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously” (Proverbs 4:23-24).

This proverb is two-fold, but they are related to one another. Believers should guard their hearts, not entertaining evil, not worrying about tomorrow, and protecting their emotions from things that can be a separation between them and God. They should watch what they say, so they do not commit the sin of lying, and so they do not injure someone else’s heart.

3. “Let your fountain be blessed, and take pleasure in the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18).

This verse speaks to finding joy in your marriage, not looking for other people, and not doing things that invite temptation for an emotional or physical affair. It can be good to remember when things are boring, dull, or mundane in life to nurture your marriage, and not look for excitement elsewhere.

4. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit” (Proverbs 6:10-11).

It can be easy to get complacent, to allow one’s indulgence for laziness to take over, especially with the temptation to scroll on your phone, watch television, and find other distractions. Working hard is a virtue, and while there should always be time for rest and relaxation, being unwise with finances and not being willing to work hard leads to long-term problems.

5. “The one who lives with integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9).

Integrity is defined as, “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” If someone walks with integrity, trying to be honest and to do right by all people, they can be confident in their dealings. It also honors God. People who try to cheat, mislead, and mistreat others in business, in personal interactions, and more will eventually be shamed for their behavior.

6. “When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).

Jesus is eternal, and was in glory with the Father and the Spirit before He entered the world. But He was humble enough to accept minimizing His glory in order to live a life like ordinary people; He even humbled Himself unto death on the cross. People who model Christ’s humility will gain wisdom and be blessed. People who are arrogant are not following Jesus’ example, and are prone to making mistakes, ignoring good advice, and getting in trouble.

7. “A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water” (Proverbs 11:25).

Generosity is a trait that is highlighted over and over again in the Gospel. Being willing to give and taking opportunities to give to others is a good heart posture to take. It can be generosity of time, resources, skills, talents, and finances. Jesus would go on centuries later during His earthly ministry to encourage people to be generous, trusting in God to provide. Looking for ways to be generous in daily life will encourage thankfulness and blessings.

8. “A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15).

When life presents obstacles, Christians should seek wisdom from the Bible, from an expert, or from others who can give good insight. Relying on one’s own wisdom can lead to error.

9. “Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit. There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:17-18).

When considering having a difficult or important conversation, pray about it, be truthful, and be slow to speak. Always be willing to speak the truth, but do it wisely. This proverb is useful for handling daily life with family. When the kids are being difficult, or traffic is bad, speak the truth, but do so lovingly. Guard your temper to ensure the words you use are appropriate and not rash.

10. “Stay away from a foolish person; you will gain no knowledge from his speech” (Proverbs 14:7).

Mind who you are spending time with, because who we surround ourselves with is who we become. While it is important to be a light in the world to find opportunities to share the Gospel with people who don’t know the Lord yet, if you find yourself always around people doing and saying things that are foolish or wrong, it is important to find wise influences, and to seek God’s guidance about friends and companions.

11. “Bright eyes cheer the heart; good news strengthens the bones” (Proverbs 15:30).

Being a source of cheer to others serves as a double blessing. It allows a Christian to bring joy and God’s light to people around them, and to bring comfort to people who need it. It also helps someone create a positive mindset. While Christians should not pursue fake happiness all day every day, they can pursue optimism by seeking to be cheerful about their life, and to encourage others.

12. “A contrary person spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.  A violent person lures his neighbor, leading him on a path that is not good” (Proverbs 16:28-29).

These two Proverbs speak to how people treat their neighbors. It is not good to engage in gossip, losing friends and integrity. Treating people the way you wish to be treated, and not subjecting them to potential slander, is important to maintaining a Christ-like testimony. If someone is apt to violence, they should repent and seek help. Avoiding neighbors who have a propensity for violence also shows prudence.

13. “A person’s spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit” (Proverbs 18:14)?

This verse can give good insight when someone is going through a difficult time, and how to recognize when someone, including yourself, may need further support like therapy. A person is not just their physical body, but they are also soul and spirit. While a body may be ravaged by sickness, the soul and the spirit can endure, especially if that a person knows Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If someone is defeated in their spirit due to difficult circumstances, depression, or spiritual warfare, that is a time for more serious intervention.

Salvation Is the Key to a Truly Blessed Life

Using the Proverbs as guiding principles to help with daily life is a good way for a believer to keep the light of the Word guiding their path, but it is no substitute for a real, dynamic, close relationship with the living God. Partner the use of the Proverbs with prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers in church, and you will never be alone without good counsel.

For people who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior, these saying can help them live a better life, but it will not save them from their sins – only faith in Jesus Christ can do that. For people who want to build that eternal relationship with God, the Bible says, “This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:8b-9).

Salvation is the first step to a truly blessed life, one filled with the Holy Spirit and with the promise of resurrection from the dead and eternal life. 

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Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.