28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

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28 And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil(A) is understanding.”(B)

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10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

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10 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of wisdom;(B)
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.(C)
    To him belongs eternal praise.(D)

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom(B) and instruction.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

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10 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(B) is understanding.(C)

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Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

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Do not be wise in your own eyes;(A)
    fear the Lord(B) and shun evil.(C)

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13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

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13 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God(A) and keep his commandments,(B)
    for this is the duty of all mankind.(C)

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Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

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Observe(A) them carefully, for this will show your wisdom(B) and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”(C)

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13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

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Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(A) by their good life, by deeds(B) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(C) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(D) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(E) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(F) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(G) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(H) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(I) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(J) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(K)

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14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

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14 Turn from evil and do good;(A)
    seek peace(B) and pursue it.

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26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

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26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.(A)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(B)
    when he marked out the horizon(C) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(D)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(E)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(F)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,(G)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(H)
30     Then I was constantly[a] at his side.(I)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.(J)

32 “Now then, my children, listen(K) to me;
    blessed are(L) those who keep my ways.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

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17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(A)

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14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

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14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(A)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(B)

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Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

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“To you, O people, I call out;(A)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple,(B) gain prudence;(C)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds