to give prudence to (A)the simple,
    knowledge and (B)discretion to the youth—

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to give shrewdness[a] to the simple,
    knowledge and purpose[b] to the young,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 Or “cleverness,” or “prudence”
  2. Proverbs 1:4 Or “plan”

21 My son, (A)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (B)life for your soul
    and (C)adornment for your neck.
23 (D)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    (E)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (F)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, (G)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (H)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of (I)the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will (J)keep your foot from being caught.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm

21 My child, may they[a] not escape from your sight;[b]
    may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.
22 They shall be life for your soul[c]
    and adornment[d] for your neck.
23 Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not panic,[e]
    and if you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,[f]
    or the storm of wickedness that will come.
26 Yahweh will be your confidence[g]
    and guard your foot from capture.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:21 Grammatically, “they” most likely refers to clouds (3:20). In context, “they” may refer to wisdom and understanding (3:13).
  2. Proverbs 3:21 Literally “eyes”
  3. Proverbs 3:22 Or “inner self”
  4. Proverbs 3:22 Or “favor”
  5. Proverbs 3:24 Or “fear, dread”
  6. Proverbs 3:25 Or “fear, dread”
  7. Proverbs 3:26 Literally “in your confidence”

A Father's Wise Instruction

(A)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may (B)gain[a] insight,
for I give you good (C)precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    (D)tender, (E)the only one in the sight of my mother,
he (F)taught me and said to me,
(G)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    (H)keep my commandments, and live.
(I)Get wisdom; get (J)insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    (K)love her, and she will guard you.
(L)The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get (M)insight.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Hebrew know

The Father’s Wisdom

Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
    and be attentive in order to know insight.
For I have given you good instruction;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son to my father,
    tender and alone before my mother,
he taught me and said to me,
    “May your heart hold fast to my words;
    guard my commandments and live.
Get wisdom and insight;
    do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;
    love her and she will keep you.
The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!
    With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

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Warning Against Adultery

(A)My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
    (B)incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep (C)discretion,
    and your lips may (D)guard knowledge.

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My child, be attentive to my wisdom,
    and to my understanding incline your ear;
in order to keep prudence,
    and knowledge will guard your lips.

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The Way of Wisdom

(A)Wisdom has built her house;
    she has hewn her (B)seven (C)pillars.
She has (D)slaughtered her beasts; she has (E)mixed her wine;
    she has also (F)set her table.
She has (G)sent out her young women to (H)call
    from (I)the highest places in the town,
(J)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    (K)To him who lacks sense she says,
“Come, (L)eat of my bread
    and (M)drink of (N)the wine I have mixed.
Leave (O)your simple ways,[a] and (P)live,
    (Q)and walk in the way of insight.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:6 Or Leave the company of the simple

Wisdom’s Banquet

Wisdom has built her house;
    she has hewn her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine,
    and also set her table.
She has sent her servant girls,[a] she calls
    upon the wings of the high places of town,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn here.”
    As for the one who lacks sense,[b] she says to him,
“Come, eat with my bread;
    drink with the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside simplicity and live;
    walk in the way of understanding.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:3 Or “young maidens”
  2. Proverbs 9:4 Literally “heart”

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

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Foolishness’ Banquet

10 The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,
    and knowledge of the Holy One,[a] insight.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:10 Or “holy ones”

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.

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The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

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15 (A)The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

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15 The simple will believe every word,
    but the clever will consider his step.

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The plans of (A)the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is (B)hasty comes (C)only to poverty.

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The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance,
    but all who are hasty, only to want.

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(A)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.

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The clever sees danger and hides,
    but the simple go on and suffer.

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23 (A)Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

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23 Buy truth and do not sell it,
    wisdom and instruction and understanding.

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12 (A)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but (B)the simple go on and suffer for it.

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12 When the clever sees danger, he hides;
    the simple go on and suffer.

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