"In the Bible there are seven sacred books, called by tradition the 'teaching' or the 'wisdom-filled' books. The 'Book of Proverbs of Solomon' belongs to their number. Its creator, from ancient times, is considered to be Solomon—the third king of Judea, ruler of the unified Kingdom of Israel in the period of its greatest flourishing, builder of the greatest sanctuary of Judaism—the Jerusalem Temple. The Bible says that Solomon’s wisdom was 'higher than the wisdom of all the sons of the East and higher than the wisdom of the Egyptians,' and it is precisely wisdom that the book teaches, presenting it as the highest good and as the only worthy object of human aspirations. Wisdom in it is personified, speaking through inspired sayings meant to instruct people. The Jewish tradition considers the sayings of the 'Book of Proverbs' the embodiment of an independent power that speaks through the sages and gives everyone knowledge of revealed truth. And the Christian Church bears witness to its respect for it by using its verses in worship."