Hippolytus, Fragments on Proverbs
Proverbs are words of encouragement that serve us on every path of life. For those who are making their way to God, a guide appears, much like a pattern that refreshes travelers worn down by the length of the road. These are the proverbs of Solomon—that is, of the Peacemaker, or the Savior Christ. Because we know the Lord's words without fail, since they are his, the text names their author and his royal lineage so that no one can lead us astray by a mere similarity of names; the speaker's credibility makes the word acceptable and commands the listeners' attention. They belong to Solomon, to whom the Lord said, "I will give you a wise and understanding heart; no one like you has ever been on the earth, nor will anyone like you arise after you," along with everything else written about him (1 Kings 3:12). He was wise, born of a wise father, which is why the account also ties him to David, from whom Solomon came, "educated in the sacred writings from childhood," and who did not gain the kingdom by lot or by force, but by the anointing of the Spirit and the vote of God.
Greek
Prologue — recension of Polychronius the deacon (left column)] Παροιμίαι τοίνυν εἰσὶ λόγοι προτρεπτικοὶ παρὰ πᾶσαν ὁδὸν τοῦ βίου χρησιμεύοντες. τοῖς γὰρ ἐπὶ τὸν ϑεὸν τὴν ὁδὸν ποιουμένοις ὁδηγός τις γίνεται παραπλησίως τῷ ὑποδείγματι, τοὺς κάμνοντας διὰ τὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ μῆκος ἀνακτωμένη. εἰσὶν οὖν αὗται αἱ παροιμίαι Σολομῶντος, ὅ ἐστιν εἰρηνικοῦ ἤτοι τοῦ σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ. ἐπειδὴ δὲ τοὺς τοῦ κυρίου λόγους, ἅτε δὴ κυρίου τυγχάνοντας, ἀπταίστως ἐπιστάμεϑα, ἵνα μή τις ἐκ τῆς ὁμωνυμίας ἡμᾶς ἀφαρπάσῃ, φησίν, τίς ὁ γράψας ταῦτα καὶ τίνων ἦν βασιλεύς, ἵνα ἡ τοῦ λέγοντος ἀξιοπιστία εὐπαράδεκτον τὸν λόγον καταστήσῃ, καὶ προσεχεῖς τοὺς ἀκούοντας. Σολομῶντος γάρ εἰσιν ἐκείνου, πρὸς ὃν εἶπεν ὁ κύριος „δώσω σοι καρδίαν φρονίμην καὶ σοφήν· ὡς σὺ οὐ γέγονεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ μετὰ σὲ οὐκ ἀναστήσεται ὅμοιός σοι“ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ γεγραμμένα. ἦν δὲ σοφὸς ἐκ σοφοῦ, διὸ καὶ πρόσκειται τῷ Δαβίδ, ἐξ οὗ Σολομῶν γέγονεν, „ἐκ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα παιδευόμενος“ καὶ οὐ κλήρῳ τὴν ἀρχὴν λαβόμενος οὐδὲ βίᾳ, ἀλλὰ χρίσει τοῦ πνεύματος καὶ ψήφῳ ϑεοῦ. [Achelis XXXIII.