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The fear of Yahweh[a] is the beginning of knowledge;
    but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

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Footnotes

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

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 simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
    and fools 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 backsliding of the simple will kill them.
    The careless ease 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 simple, understand prudence!
    You fools, be of an understanding heart!

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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 The foolish woman is loud,
    undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
    as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
    Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.

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 wise in heart accept commandments,
    but a chattering fool will fall.

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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 He who hides hatred has lying lips.
    He who utters a 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 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,
    but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

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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 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
    The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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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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