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

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

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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 avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(A)

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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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“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

29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God,(A) but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.(B)

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19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(A) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(B) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(C) must turn away from wickedness.”

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16 Wash(A) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;(B)
    stop doing wrong.(C)

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11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.

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