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to give subtilty to the simple,
to the young man knowledge and discretion.

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for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](A)
    knowledge and discretion(B) to the young—

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes:
keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 so shall they be life unto thy soul,
and grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely,
and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence,
and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

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21 My son,(A) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(B)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(C)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(D)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(E)
    and your foot will not stumble.(F)
24 When you lie down,(G) you will not be afraid;(H)
    when you lie down, your sleep(I) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(J)
    and will keep your foot(K) from being snared.(L)

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Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,
and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine,
forsake ye not my law.
For I was my father’s son,
tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He taught me also, and said unto me,
Let thine heart retain my words:
keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom, get understanding:
forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:
love her, and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.

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Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(E)
Get wisdom,(F) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(G)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(H)
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(I) you have,[b] get understanding.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

My son, attend unto my wisdom,
and bow thine ear to my understanding:
that thou mayest regard discretion,
and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

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Warning Against Adultery

My son,(A) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words(B) of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.

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Wisdom hath builded her house,
she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
she hath killed her beasts;
she hath mingled her wine;
she hath also furnished her table.
She hath sent forth her maidens:
she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:
as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Come, eat of my bread,
and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Forsake the foolish, and live;
and go in the way of understanding.

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Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

Wisdom has built(A) her house;
    she has set up[a] its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(B)
    she has also set her table.(C)
She has sent out her servants, and she calls(D)
    from the highest point of the city,(E)
    “Let all who are simple(F) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(G) she says,
    “Come,(H) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.(I)
Leave your simple ways and you will live;(J)
    walk in the way of insight.”(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out

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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The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way:
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

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The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(A)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(B)

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15 The simple believeth every word:
    but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

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15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(A)

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The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
    but of every one that is hasty only to want.

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The plans of the diligent lead to profit(A)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

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A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:
    but the simple pass on, and are punished.

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The prudent see danger and take refuge,(A)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(B)

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23 Buy the truth, and sell it not;
also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

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23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(A)

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12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself;
but the simple pass on, and are punished.

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12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(A)

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