What is the nature of successful living?What does it mean to achieve a good life? The Old Testament wisdom literature--Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes--provides perceptive answers to these questions. Though sometimes neglected, this genre, consisting of short sayings and lengthy reflective writings, offers readers thoughtful instructions for living. In this volume of the Reading and Interpreting the Bible Series, A. Wendell Bowes expertly guides readers in interpreting these insightful writings and applying their lessons to everyday life. From exploring the ancient Near Eastern background of these writings to providing interpretations of sample texts, Dr. Bowes has crafted a practical handbook for anyone wanting to study this rich and astute biblical literature. Reading the Bible with understanding is challenging. Without sound guidance, making sense of the different literary types, settings, and cultures found in the Scriptures can be overwhelming. The Reading and Interpreting the Bible Series opens the door to a proper and accessible method of biblical interpretation. Each volume concentrates on a specific literary type found in the Bible, highlighting its features and function. Social, political, and religious settings are examined, and a critical analysis of the biblical text brings to light its message and relevance for today. Readers will find in these volumes numerous illustrations of how to interpret specific texts, which can be used as a pattern for individual or group Bible studies.