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

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The Major Theme

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 Or instruction

The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom(B) and instruction.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

22 “How long, you (A)naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking?
And how long will (B)scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools (C)hate knowledge?

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22 “You naïve ones, how long will you love naiveté?
    And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing
        or fools hate knowledge?”

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22 “How long will you who are simple(A) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(B) knowledge?

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32 For the (A)faithlessness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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32 Indeed, the waywardness[a] of the naïve will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:32 So MT; DSS 4QProva reads narrow-mindedness; lit. the pull of; LXX reads Because they would wrong the naïve, they will be murdered

32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(A)

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You (A)naive ones, understand prudence;
And, you (B)fools, understand [a]wisdom!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Lit heart

Understand prudence, you naïve people;
    and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones.

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You who are simple,(A) gain prudence;(B)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds

13 [a]A woman of foolishness is (A)boisterous,
She has a lack of understanding and (B)knows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by (C)the high places of the city,
15 Calling to those who pass by,
Who are going straight on their paths:
16 (D)Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks [b]understanding she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
And (E)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the [c]dead are there,
That her guests are in the (F)depths of Sheol.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:13 Or A foolish woman
  2. Proverbs 9:16 Lit heart
  3. Proverbs 9:18 Lit departed spirits

Folly’s Entrapment

13 The foolish woman is loud,
    undisciplined, and without knowledge.
14 She sits at the entrance of her house,
    on a seat high above the city.
15 She calls out to those passing by on the road,
    who are minding their own business,[a]
16 “Whoever is naïve, turn in here!”
    And to anyone lacking sense, she says,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
    and food eaten in secret is delicious.”
18 But he does not realize that the dead lurk there,
    and her invited guests wind up in the depths of Sheol.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:15 Or are going straight on their way
  2. Proverbs 9:18 I.e. the realm of the dead

13 Folly is an unruly woman;(A)
    she is simple and knows nothing.(B)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,(C)
15 calling out(D) to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
16     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(E) she says,
17     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!(F)
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(G)

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The (A)wise of heart will receive commands,
But [a]a babbling fool will come to ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:8 Lit the foolish of lips

The wise person[a] accepts commands,
    but the chattering fool will be brought down.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:8 Lit. wise in heart

The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(A)

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18 One (A)who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And one who spreads slander is a fool.

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18 Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar,
    and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

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18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips(A)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

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23 Doing wickedness is like (A)sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a person of understanding.

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23 Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy,
    so is wisdom to the discerning man.

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23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(A)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

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29 One who (A)troubles his own house will (B)inherit wind,
And (C)the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.

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29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

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29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(A)

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