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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 Or, chief part

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.

32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them,
And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

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

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35 The wise shall inherit glory;
But [a]shame shall be the promotion of fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:35 Or, fools carry away shame

35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

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14 Wise men lay up knowledge;
But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.

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14 The wise store up knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(B)

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21 The lips of the righteous feed many;
But the foolish die for lack of [a]understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:21 Hebrew heart.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.(A)

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23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness;
[a]And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:23 Or, But a man of understanding hath wisdom

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

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29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;
And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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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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In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride;
But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

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A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(A)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(B)

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The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way;
But the folly of fools is deceit.

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The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(A)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(B)

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[a]A trespass-offering mocketh fools;
But among the upright there is [b]good will.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Or, Fools make a mock at sin
  2. Proverbs 14:9 Or, the favor of God

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

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16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil;
But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.

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16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(A)
    but a fool(B) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

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24 [a]The crown of the wise is their riches;
But the folly of fools is only folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:24 Or, Their riches is a crown unto the wise

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(A)

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33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding;
[a]But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Or, And in the midst of fools it maketh itself known

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