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the wise man also may hear and increase in learning,
    and the man of understanding acquire skill,
to understand a proverb and a figure,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

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

Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
    and reject not your mother’s teaching;
for they are a fair garland for your head,
    and pendants for 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 Give heed[a] to my reproof;
behold, I will pour out my thoughts[b] to you;
    I will make my words known to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Heb Turn
  2. Proverbs 1:23 Heb spirit

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 receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you cry out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures;
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from 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 disgrace;
    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 a wise man listens to advice.

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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 hears 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 By insolence the heedless make strife,
    but with those who take advice 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 becomes wise,
    but the companion 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 in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.

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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 acquire 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 anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper 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 abides in the mind of a man of understanding,
    but it is not[a] known in the heart of fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Gk Syr: Heb lacks not

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 mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed 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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