29 (A)And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind (B)like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all (C)the people of the east (D)and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was (E)wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 (F)He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, (G)and his songs were 1,005.

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The Beginning of Knowledge

(A)The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in (B)righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to (C)the simple,
    knowledge and (D)discretion to the youth—
Let the wise hear and (E)increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
    (F)the words of the wise and their (G)riddles.

(H)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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