Tremper Longman has written a helpful book on Proverbs.
On page 77 he writes:
This study of the similarities between the advice given in the biblical book and ancient Near Eastern wisdom also makes concrete what we read in 1 Kings 4, that the sages of Israel lived and studied in an international setting. It is always dicey to be dogmatic about specific borrowings, but there is little doubt that Israel’s wise teachers read, understood, adapted, and appropriated the wisdom of their (pagan!) neighbors.
Does this tell us something about how we should view our own, non-Christian culture, as well as other cultures worldwide? Many Christians react strongly against today’s culture and the literature it produces–reading only Christian literature, going only to Christian schools, avoiding movies, and so forth. Certainly the prophets of Israel issued important warnings about the seductive power of pagan culture. The sages, though, are the counterbalance. They are a model of thoughtful observers, reflecting on the world around them. Perhaps we should be better observers ourselves.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons