Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17 Pay attention(A) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(B)
    apply your heart to what I teach,(C)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(D)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

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17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

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Sayings of the Wise

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 (A)That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
(B)That you may answer words of truth
To those who [a]send to you?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:21 Or send you

Purpose and Theme

The proverbs(A) of Solomon(B) son of David, king of Israel:(C)

for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](D)
    knowledge and discretion(E) to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,(F)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(G)
    the sayings and riddles(H) of the wise.[b](I)

The fear of the Lord(J) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[c] despise wisdom(K) and instruction.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. 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 proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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The Beginning of Knowledge

The (A)proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,
To [a]perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
To give prudence to the (B)simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
(C)A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their (D)riddles.

(E)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:2 understand or discern
  2. Proverbs 1:5 acquire

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These are more proverbs(A) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:(B)

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25 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

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Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

25 These(A) also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

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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)
11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(D)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

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10 “The(A) fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 (B)For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 (C)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”

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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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27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

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27 (A)The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But (B)the years of the wicked will be shortened.

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

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He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

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He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
(A)But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

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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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26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

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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 (A)The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

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

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33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

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33 (A)The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And (B)before honor is humility.

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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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23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

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23 (A)The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

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