14 (A)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

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14 The (A)mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

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31 (A)The ear that listens to (B)life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (C)ignores instruction (D)despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof (E)gains intelligence.
33 (F)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and (G)humility comes before honor.

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31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke
Will stay among the wise.
32 One who (A)neglects discipline (B)rejects himself,
But one who (C)listens to a rebuke acquires [a]understanding.
33 [b]The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Lit heart
  2. Proverbs 15:33 Or Reverence for

16 (A)How much better to get wisdom than (B)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (C)silver.

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16 How much (A)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

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21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech (A)increases persuasiveness.

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21 The (A)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [a]speech (B)increases [b]persuasiveness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or learning

24 (A)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the (A)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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15 The [a](A)mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the (B)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:15 Lit heart

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in (A)the future.

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20 (A)Listen to advice and accept discipline,
So that you may be wise [a]the rest of your days.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your latter end

The purpose in a man's heart is like (A)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.

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A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.

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18 (A)Plans are established by counsel;
    by (B)wise guidance (C)wage war.

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18 Prepare (A)plans by consultation,
And (B)make war by wise guidance.

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11 When (A)a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

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11 When the (A)scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

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Words of the Wise

17 (A)Incline your ear, and hear (B)the words of the wise,
    (C)and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you (D)thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21 to (E)make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

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17 (A)Extend your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be (B)pleasant if you keep them within you,
[a]So that they may be ready on your lips.
19 So that your (C)trust may be in the Lord,
I have [b]taught you today, you indeed.
20 Have I not written to you [c](D)excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you (E)know the [d]certainty of the words of truth,
So that you may [e](F)correctly answer him who sent you?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:18 Lit They together
  2. Proverbs 22:19 Lit made you know
  3. Proverbs 22:20 Or previous
  4. Proverbs 22:21 Lit truth
  5. Proverbs 22:21 Lit return words of truth

19 Hear, my son, and (A)be wise,
    and (B)direct your heart in the way.

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19 Listen, my son, and (A)be wise,
And (B)direct your heart in the way.

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