23 Uplifting Bible Proverbs for Children and Parents

The book of Proverbs is a beautiful book filled with practical wisdom written by a father to his son. As parents in the modern world, we want to raise children who learn God’s wisdom. Times have changed, but God’s Word has not. Whatever He said five thousand years ago still applies to our lives today, and we can and should teach them from an early age. 

Moms have so many goals for their kids. We want them to be smart, successful, kind, and happy. But the truth is, there’s not a lot we can do to ensure they are any of those things. However, when we focus on raising them in the right way, in God’s way, we are setting them on an important, life-long path. The path to wisdom. 

The first step to wisdom comes from learning to fear the Lord. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

The word “fear” in this verse doesn’t mean that we should teach them to be afraid. Instead, it means we should teach our children to respect and honor the Lord. 

Proverbs to Start Children on the Right Path

Most of the Proverbs were written by King Solomon, but some were also written by his father, King David, and some were written by Moses. All of these men were filled with wisdom directly from God. In the book of 2 Chronicles, we read that God appeared to Solomon and told him to ask for whatever he wanted, and God would give it. 

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead^.
Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
2 Chronicles 2:7-10

Instead of asking for money, land, or power, Solomon asked God to give him the wisdom to lead the children of Israel. 

God was so pleased by Solomon’s request, He promised that Solomon would be wise, and in addition, he would receive all the other things he hadn’t asked for. 

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. His wisdom was legendary in Old Testament times, and he wrote the book of Proverbs to share his wisdom with future generations. 

While many of the Proverbs contain common sense teachings, the book is also full of verses that show us how to live a holy life that honors God. In fact, Solomon begins the book by telling us his purpose in writing:

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 1:2-4

Teaching Proverbs to our children is the best way to help them grow wise in the ways of the Lord. Proverbs chapter one says that wisdom is the most important thing any child can learn. 

What Does Proverbs Say About Children?

Our modern society often considers children to be a burden. They “get in the way” of their parents having a life or career. 

But as usual, God sees things from a different perspective. He says that children are a crown and glory.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us that it is our job as parents to train children in a godly way. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

God doesn’t say that we can force our children to receive Christ or follow God’s plan. That’s a decision each person makes for themself. But God promised that if we give them wise counsel from the Bible, they will never be able to forget them.

Short Proverbs for Kids

The point of a Proverb is to teach a lesson, and sometimes the best lessons aren’t long or complicated. The best thing about teaching children Proverbs is that they pack a lot of punch in just a few words. 

The Word of God is powerful, and it doesn’t need a lot of verbiage to explain what’s right and what’s wrong! Most Proverbs include two short and contrasting statements. Here is an example of a Proverb: A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

If you have little children (around three or four years) you may just want to teach them the first part of the verse. But as they get older, they can learn the entire verse. These children’s Proverbs are short and learning them is a small step they can take to start growing in wisdom.

23 Simple Proverbs for With Important Truths for Kids and Parents

Sometimes we think the Bible is too hard for kids to learn. But the truth is, kids can memorize Scripture! Proverbs is written simply, so kids can start memorizing these simple Bible verses at a young age. Start with these best Proverbs for kids, and over time your whole family can grow in wisdom and the knowledge of God. 

*These verses were taken from the King James Version of the Bible

Proverbs 1:5

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

A wise person never stops learning. They surround themselves with people who are older and wiser and they pay attention to the teachings of their parents. 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In this verse, the word “fear” doesn’t mean we should teach our children to be afraid of God. But respect for God and His Word is where true wisdom begins. Fools refuse to listen to the instruction of those who know more than them. 

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Young people who never pay attention to their parents’ instructions are doomed to live a life full of problems! The key to a long and happy life is learning to obey while you’re young. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The only way to have success in life is to trust the Lord with your plans. Teach your kids to let God lead them in all things. When we start teaching them at a young age when they get to the important things like choosing a career, spouse, or higher education, they’ll already be in the habit of seeking God’s wisdom. 

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

There are so many things we want our kids to have in life. In all honesty, we want them to have everything. (Even though we know that’s not reasonable or possible!) But the most important thing we should want for them in wisdom. They need us to show them that having stuff in life is far less important than being wise. 

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Kids have hearts that are so pure and innocent. We need to show them the importance of protecting their hearts and not following every whim. Modern society tells us that we should follow our hearts, but, unfortunately, allowing your heart to lead the way can often lead to disaster.

Proverbs 8:11

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Our world is all about all the things we can get. But having wisdom is more important than anything else. No matter what else you get, it is not as valuable as being wise. As moms, it’s our job to show our kids how important it is to choose wisdom above all else. 

Related: Discovering Wisdom: A Proverbs Reading Plan for Beginners

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Here is another verse that reminds us that respecting and honoring the Lord is the most important thing we can teach our kids. But more than that, we should want our kids to know God personally. Knowing God and loving Him is the key to walking in the way of wisdom.

Proverbs 10:1

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

When our children make wise decisions, it makes our hearts so happy! But when we see them going the wrong way, it’s a burden on our hearts. Proverbs 10:1 is one of the key verses in Proverbs, and it stresses the importance of kids learning wisdom. 

Proverbs 11:13

A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

If you have teenagers, you know the drama that can come along with that age group! The power of words is real–they can tear down or build up. Our kids need to know that gossip and stirring up drama are not the way to have friends. A true friend doesn’t talk behind your back or share your secrets with anyone else.

Note: As moms, we have to walk a fine line when it comes to our kids and their friends. It’s important to have a relationship with your kids so that they can come to you when they feel like they need to share a secret with you. We want our kids to build strong friendships, but we also want them to trust us enough to tell us if they feel like a friend is in trouble.

Proverbs 13:7

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Selfishness is a natural part of life for all of us. But the Bible tells us that having a bunch of money isn’t the most important thing. In fact, a person who is generous is much richer than a stingy person!

Proverbs 14:15

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

The word prudent means “acting with or showing care and thought for the future.” Kids don’t often think about the future or the consequences of their actions. They need us as wise parents to show them that it’s vital to consider the future and have a plan. 

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

This is an important lesson for moms as well as kids! Responding in anger with harsh words never makes anything better, but a calm, gentle answer can often change a situation.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but we should do it anyways. The Word of God instructs us that if we do what we know is right in our hearts, eventually our minds will follow.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

All of us are filled with pride from time to time, and the results are often disastrous for us! Serving the Lord with a humble heart is the key to a happy and successful  Christian life. 

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Friendship can be a tough pathway to walk sometimes, but a true friend is always there for you. Even more important is the relationship between brothers and sisters. You don’t understand the importance of the family unit when you’re a child, but as an adult, you see just how much your siblings mean to you. 

Related: How to Encourage a Friend

Proverbs 18:24

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Making friends is hard, and can be an even bigger struggle if you’re an introvert or have moved into a new community. But a person who has friends is always friendly to others. If your child is having a hard time making friends, encourage them to reach out and be a friend to someone else. 

Proverbs 20:11

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

You know the old saying, “You only get one chance to make a first impression?” It’s true, even for kids. Molding a good character in your children is the key to a successful future. People will know if they have a good or bad attitude and if they’re trustworthy and kind. If a child has a bad attitude, people will know that and it will be hard to overcome that for the rest of their lives.  

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Having a good name is important in life. It takes a long time to build a good reputation, but it can be destroyed in just a few minutes with a bad decision. We want to pass on a good name to our kids, and we want them to keep it. 

If you live in a small community like I do, your name really matters. People will often respect or disrespect you based on who your family is. (Is this fair? Maybe not. But it goes to show you how important it is to have a good reputation.)

Proverbs 27:17

 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Who we choose as our friends is important. Other than family members, a child’s friends have the greatest influence of all in our kids’ lives. We need to encourage our kids to choose friends who build them up and make them better. 

Proverbs 29:11

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Have you ever known someone who talks all the time? Those people usually think they’re really smart, but most of use think they’re actually pretty foolish. Wise people understand the importance of staying silent and not sharing their opinions with everyone. Sometimes the wisest person is the one who speaks the least. 

What to Do Next with These Children Proverbs

Proverbs can be a great way to encourage and guide kids through life’s trials. Providing these uplifting bible proverbs allows kids and parents to remember the message of hope, alertness, and kindness that is often found in scripture. 

When children read and recite these words from the Bible, they learn persistence and wisdom that demonstrates kindness and values. These 24 uplifting Bible proverbs are sure to leave your family with a sense of peace. With so much heaviness in the world, it’s always nice to read something positive for a change! 

If you find yourself still looking for some more Biblical proverbs check out our new product: Wisdom for Kids: Proverbs Bible Verse Cards containing 20 Bible Proverbs! Each card comes brightly decorated with fun illustrations and a corresponding Bible verse. Download your set today to give your little ones the gift of Scripture memorization.

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