To give (A)prudence to the naive,
To the youth (B)knowledge and discretion,
A wise person will hear and (C)increase in learning,
And a (D)person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and a saying,
The words of the wise and their (E)riddles.

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

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for giving prudence to the naïve,
    and knowledge and discretion to the young.

Let the wise listen and increase their[a] learning;
    let the person of understanding receive guidance
in understanding proverbs, clever sayings,
    words of the wise, and their riddles.

The Major Theme

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:5 The Heb. lacks their
  2. Proverbs 1:7 Or instruction

for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](A)
    knowledge and discretion(B) to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,(C)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(D)
    the sayings and riddles(E) of the wise.[b](F)

The fear of the Lord(G) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[c] despise wisdom(H) and instruction.(I)

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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.
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

For if you cry out for insight,
And [a]raise your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as (A)silver
And search for her as for (B)hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the (C)fear of the Lord,
And discover the knowledge of God.
For (D)the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:3 Lit give

if, indeed, you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it like hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and learn to know God.

For the Lord gives wisdom,
    and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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indeed, if you call out for insight(A)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(B)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(C)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(D)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(E)

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10 For (A)wisdom will enter your heart,
And (B)knowledge will be delightful to your soul;
11 Discretion will (C)watch over you,
Understanding will guard you,
12 To (D)rescue you from the way of evil,
From a person who speaks (E)perverse things;

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10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Discretion[a] will protect you;
    understanding will watch over you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
    from men who speak perverse things,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:11 Or Wise planning

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,(A)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.(B)

12 Wisdom will save(C) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,

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They are all (A)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who (B)find knowledge.
10 Accept my (C)instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is (D)better than [a]jewels;
And (E)all desirable things cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, (F)dwell with prudence,
And I find (G)knowledge and discretion.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:11 Lit corals

Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands,
    and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.
10 Grab hold of my instruction in lieu of money
    and knowledge instead of the finest gold,
11 because wisdom is better than precious gems[a]
    and nothing you desire can compare to it.”

The Way of Wisdom

12 “I, wisdom, am related to[b] prudence.
    I know how to be discreet.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:11 Or rubies
  2. Proverbs 8:12 Lit. wisdom, live with

To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,(A)
11 for wisdom is more precious(B) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(D)

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

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10 The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins,
    and knowing holiness[a] demonstrates understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:10 Or knowing holy ones

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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14 Wise people (A)store up knowledge,
But with (B)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

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14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[a] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

14 The wise store up knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(B)

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With his (A)mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the (B)righteous will be rescued.

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By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

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23 A (A)prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

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23 A prudent man keeps what he knows to himself,[a]
    but the hearts of fools shout forth their foolishness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 The Heb. lacks to himself

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(A)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(B)

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A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy for one who has understanding.
Leave the (A)presence of a fool,
Or you will not [a]discern [b]words of knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:7 Lit know
  2. Proverbs 14:7 Lit lips

A mocker seeks wisdom and finds[a] none,
    but learning comes easily to someone who understands.

Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you will not find competent advice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:6 The Heb. lacks finds

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(A)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

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