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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

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

35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but he holds fools up for ridicule.

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14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[a] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

21 What the righteous person says[a] nourishes many,
    but fools die because they lack discerning[b] hearts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:21 Lit. The lips of the righteous
  2. Proverbs 10:21 The Heb. lacks discerning

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

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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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What a fool says brings[a] a rod to his back,
    but the words of the wise protect them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit. The mouth of the fool

The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,
    but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

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Fools make fun of guilt,
    but among the upright there are good intentions.

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16 The wise person fears and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

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24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

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