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Let the wise man hear and (A)increase in learning,
And a (B)man of understanding will acquire guidance,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their (C)riddles.

(D)The fear of [a]Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
[b]Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.

The Enticement of Sinners

(E)Hear, my son, your father’s discipline
And (F)do not abandon your mother’s [c]instruction;
For they are a (G)garland of grace for your head
And [d](H)ornaments about your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
  2. Proverbs 1:7 One who lacks wisdom due to negligence or carelessness; so in Prov
  3. Proverbs 1:8 Or law
  4. Proverbs 1:9 Lit necklaces

let the wise listen and add to their learning,(A)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(B)
    the sayings and riddles(C) of the wise.[a](D)

The fear of the Lord(E) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[b] despise wisdom(F) and instruction.(G)

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(H) to your father’s(I) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(J)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(K)

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Footnotes

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

23 Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will (A)pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

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23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.

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Yahweh Gives Wisdom

My son, if you will (A)receive my words
And (B)treasure my commandments within you,
(C)To make your ear pay attention to wisdom,
Incline your heart to discernment;
For if you call out for understanding,
Give your voice for discernment;
If you seek her as (D)silver
And search for her as for (E)hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the (F)fear of Yahweh
And find the knowledge of God.
For (G)Yahweh gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and discernment.

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Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,(A) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding(B)
indeed, if you call out for insight(C)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(D)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(E)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(F)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(G)

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When (A)arrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.

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When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(A)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(B)

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15 The (A)way of an ignorant fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

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15 The way of fools seems right to them,(A)
    but the wise listen to advice.(B)

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13 A (A)wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a (B)scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

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10 With arrogance [a]comes only quarreling,
But with those who receive counsel is wisdom.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:10 Lit gives

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(A)

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20 (A)He who walks with the wise will be wise,
But the friend of fools will suffer harm.

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20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(A)

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A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
Leave the (A)presence of a fool,
As you have not known lips of knowledge there.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But (B)the folly of fools is deceit.

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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.

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

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18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are [a]crowned with knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:18 Lit surrounded

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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29 He who is (A)slow to anger has great discernment,
But he who is [a]quick-tempered raises up folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Lit short of spirit

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(A)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(B)

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33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the midst of fools it is merely made known.

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33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(A)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known

14 The (A)heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

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14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

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