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a wise man will hear and will increase learning,
    and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
to understand a proverb and the interpretation,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

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

The Prologue: Embrace Wisdom

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
    and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
for they will be a garland of grace on your head,
    and chains about your neck.

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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 at my reproof;
    surely I will 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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The Value of Wisdom

My son, if you will receive my words,
    and hide my commandments within you,
so that you incline your ear to wisdom,
    and apply your heart to understanding;
yes, if you cry out for knowledge,
    and lift up your voice for understanding,
if you seek her as silver,
    and search for her as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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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 pride comes, then comes shame;
    but with the humble 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 way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but he who listens to counsel is wise.

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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 wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a 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 Only by pride comes contention,
    but with the well-advised is wisdom.

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

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20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
    but a companion of fools will be destroyed.

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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 scorner seeks wisdom and does not find it,
    but knowledge is easy to him who understands.

Go from the presence of a foolish man,
    when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
    but 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 crowned with knowledge.

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

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29 He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding,
    but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.

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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 him who has understanding,
    but that which is in the midst of fools is 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 heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

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

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