Had Enough? A Proverbs Makeover For Gen Ex & Why Women

The Book of Proverbs is one of the rare bodies of spiritual literature universally accepted as practical and beneficial advice about life. But between the original language, multiple translations, poetic style, gender bias, prophetic word puzzles* and repetition much is lost on some readers, especially contemporary women (except, of course, Proverbs 31, every woman's personal guiltometre).

This paraphrase was written for my youngest daughter, Kelly Jo, before she left home for college. I wanted the Proverbs to speak to her where she lives - you know, Facebook, Starbucks, looking for Mr. Right in all the wrong places. So where the context of Proverbs is gender neutral, yet expressed to men, I redirect the message to women with contemporary application of original intent in conversational language.

While researching and writing I became increasingly conscious of the power of subliminal exclusion. With each new chapter I was amazed how much the women in my life enjoyed these inclusive new installments on an old book of wisdom. I know, only a man would be amazed. But my wife gently reminded me that women were created in God's image, not mans, so I shouldn't be quite so surprised.

The interpretations of language and intent were drawn from the most reliable current translations of the Bible and scholarly commentary. Contemporary application, phraseology and analogy are my own, in faith of God's guiding inspiration.

For Kelly I stuffed blank, loose-leaf pages between chapters so she could cut, paste and journal her journey to wisdom. This stuff is so important I wanted to do more, but her mom nixed my offer to spring for body tattoos of the more salient provisions (how like a mother).

At any rate, I hope this fresh look at old truth leads Kelly and you into the awesome and radical life God planned for each of us before we were formed.