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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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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.

The Benefit of Wisdom

My son,
if you take my words ⌞to heart⌟
and treasure my commands within you,
if you pay close attention to wisdom,
and let your mind reach for understanding,
if indeed you call out for insight,
if you ask aloud for understanding,
if you search for wisdom as if it were money
and hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and you will find the knowledge of God.

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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)

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Do not consider yourself wise.
Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⌞Then⌟ your body will be healed,
and your bones will have nourishment.

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Do not be wise in your own eyes;(A)
    fear the Lord(B) and shun evil.(C)
This will bring health to your body(D)
    and nourishment to your bones.(E)

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13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.

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13 To fear the Lord(A) is to hate evil;(B)
    I hate(C) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.

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10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

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10 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(B) is understanding.(C)

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27 The fear of the Lord lengthens ⌞the number of⌟ days,
but the years of wicked people are shortened.

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27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(A)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(B)

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Whoever lives right fears the Lord,
but a person who is devious in his ways despises him.

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Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

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26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
and his children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life
to turn ⌞one⌟ away from the grasp of death.

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26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(A)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(B)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(C)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(D)

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16 Better to have a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and turmoil.

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16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(A)

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33 The fear of the Lord is discipline ⌞leading to⌟ wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

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33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(A)
    and humility comes before honor.(B)

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By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord.
By the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.

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Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord(A) evil is avoided.(B)

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23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and such a person will rest easy without suffering harm.

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23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.(A)

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On the heels of humility (the fear of the Lord)
are riches and honor and life.

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Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(A) and life.(B)

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