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

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14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,(A)
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.(B)

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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

31 One who[a] listens to life-giving rebukes(A)
will be at home among the wise.

32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,(B)
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.[b](C)

33 The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,
and humility comes before honor.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:31 Lit An ear that
  2. Proverbs 15:32 Lit acquires a heart

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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16 Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.(A)

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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

21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[a] increases learning.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips

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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24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes(A) roam to the ends of the earth.

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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

15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.(A)

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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

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your end

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

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Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;(A)
but a man of understanding draws it out.

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

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18 Finalize plans with counsel,(A)
and wage war with sound guidance.(B)

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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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11 When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.(A)

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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

Words of the Wise

17 Listen closely,[a] pay attention to the words of the wise,(A)
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if[b] they are constantly on your lips.
19 I have instructed you today—even you—
so that your confidence may be in the Lord.
20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings[c]
about counsel and knowledge,
21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,
so that you may give a dependable report[d](B)
to those who sent you?(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:17 Lit Stretch out your ear
  2. Proverbs 22:18 Or you; let them be, or you, so that
  3. Proverbs 22:20 Text emended; one Hb tradition reads you previously; alt Hb tradition reads you excellent things; LXX, Syr, Vg read you three times
  4. Proverbs 22:21 Lit give dependable words

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

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19 Listen, my son, and be wise;
keep your mind on the right course.

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