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that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
    that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
to understand a proverb and parables,
    the words and riddles of the wise.

The fear of Yahweh[a] is the beginning of knowledge;
    but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
for they will be a garland to grace your head,
    and chains around your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

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.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

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

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

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23 Turn at my reproof.
    Behold,[a] I will pour out my spirit on you.
    I will make known my words to you.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:23 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

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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23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

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My son, if you will receive my words,
    and store up my commandments within you,
so as to turn your ear to wisdom,
    and apply your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for discernment,
    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 Yahweh,
    and find the knowledge of God.[a]
For Yahweh gives wisdom.
    Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:5 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

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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My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

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When pride comes, then comes shame,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

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

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When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

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15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but he who is wise 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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15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

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13 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer doesn’t 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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13 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

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10 Pride only breeds quarrels,
    but wisdom is with people who take advice.

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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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10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

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20 One who walks with wise men grows wise,
    but a companion of fools suffers 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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20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

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A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,
    but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about 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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A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not 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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