Time after time, I’m amazed by how I can find the answer to just about any question in the Bible — even dating advice for men. King Solomon is said to have been the wisest man ever to walk the earth. During his reign as king of Jerusalem, men and women came from all corners of the world to witness his wisdom firsthand. But just as Solomon is remembered for his divine wisdom, he’s also infamously known for his indiscretions with women — having 700 wives and 300 concubines.

While many people use his life and shortcomings as a cautionary tale, I’ve discovered that Solomon’s proverbs and wise sayings offer valuable guidance for men navigating today’s complex dating world. Before diving into these scriptures, let’s take a closer look at Solomon himself.

Solomon was the perfect example of what it means to be a philogynist, which is a person who loves or has a fondness for women. He references women more than any other man in the Bible. Not only does he reference them, but he even wrote a chapter in Proverbs about what it means to be a virtuous woman (Proverbs 31) — and men think it’s not cool to be in touch with their feminine side. But wait, there’s more. Solomon also wrote an entire book of erotic poems (Song of Solomon) to his soon-to-be wife, full of romantic compliments and intimate whispers.

Solomon was the wisest man on earth, and because of his knowledge and love for women, I think it’s safe to call him the “Biblical Hitch” of his time. So, I’ve gathered a list of Solomon’s wisest gems and interpreted them to fit today’s terminology as if they came straight from the Biblical Hitch himself.

Warning: I’m not trying to play scripture interpretation wars here. I’m simply saying, for one second, read these words as if Solomon is indeed the “Biblical Hitch” talking to men of the 21st century about how dating and attraction work.

Proverbs 27:5 NLT — An open rebuke is better than hidden love!

Go for it. It’s better to be rejected and move on with your life than to wonder what could be. If you like her, face the fear that rejection is possible, but so is capturing the heart of the woman you desire.

Ecclesiastes 8:14 NLT — “And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!”

Do nice guys finish last? Well, according to the wisest man to ever walk the earth, it looks like they do. Need we elaborate on this topic anymore? We can finally put this debate to rest. But that’s your call. I don’t mean to call the so-called bad boys “wicked,” but I think we all get what Solomon is saying.

Ecclesiastes 7:28 NLT — “Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!”

Wait! How could Solomon say this when he wrote the chapter in Proverbs on what it means to be a “virtuous woman”? Obviously, between the time he wrote Proverbs 31 and Song of Solomon (the beginning and middle of his reign) and Ecclesiastes 7:28 (the end of his reign), he experienced a few bad apples. But I don’t believe for one second that he’s saying men or women aren’t virtuous. The bigger picture here is that good people are hard to find, and when you have someone good in your life, you should be sure to cherish them.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 NLT — “So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?”

Is it me, or do nice guys seem entitled to certain women because they’re, I don’t know, NICE? Here, Solomon is speaking of balance. There’s no way any man can be perfect and expect to live every day without making a mistake. To do so would be pure foolishness. So accept that we’re imperfectly made humans, and always try to make the best decisions. But when you fail, man up to your actions and keep moving forward.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 NLT — But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

It’s safe to conclude that dating is an investment. Many men put all their eggs into one basket, and when it fails, they’re upset. This spoke to me. While I believe in true love, love is also a numbers game. Every woman that you like won’t like you. And you won’t reciprocate the interest of every woman who’s into you. The key is to keep playing the game until you find someone with whom you share mutual feelings.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 NLT — “Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.”

Although many things changed about how Solomon saw the world, the one thing consistent in his teachings was how much of a blessing it is to share your life with the woman you love. Solomon says she’s a gift from God. Everything that man has to endure here on earth is worth it because his wife makes the burden easier to handle.

Here is the most significant scripture pairing I’ve found in the Bible, as it comes from the two wisest men in the book.

It’s safe to conclude that dating is an investment. Many men put all their eggs into one basket, and when it fails, they’re upset. This spoke to me. While I believe in true love, love is also a numbers game. Every woman that you like won’t like you. And you won’t reciprocate the interest of every woman who’s into you. The key is to keep playing the game until you find someone with whom you share mutual feelings.

Proverbs 18:22 NLT — “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.”

In basketball, this scripture would be the alley-oop pass from Solomon.

Matthew 7:7 NLT — “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

And this would be the tomahawk slam-dunk by Jesus. Assist goes to Solomon.

Key phrases — Solomon: “a man who finds,” Jesus: “Keep on seeking and you shall find.” The bottom line is seek, and you shall find, fellas.

To all the guys who believe that “good things happen to those who wait” — good for you. Keep on waiting. But to all the go-getters who say that “good things happen to those who wait, but only what’s left from those who hustle,” — let us get up, get out, and start seeking.

I hope that you found this post to be both enjoyable and eye-opening. And if you’re boiling because of the way I interpreted the scripture, here’s one more for you:

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT — “So I recommend having fun because there is nothing better in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way, they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.”

Have fun, and smile more! PEACE OUT!