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That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
To understand a proverb, and [a]a figure,
The words of the wise, and their [b]dark sayings.

The fear of Jehovah is the [c]beginning of knowledge;
But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
And forsake not the [d]law of thy mother:
For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head,
And chains about thy neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:6 Or, an interpretation
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or, riddles
  3. Proverbs 1:7 Or, chief part
  4. Proverbs 1:8 Or, teaching

may the wise hear and increase learning,
    and the one who understands gain direction,[a]
to understand a proverb and an expression,
    words of wisdom and their riddles.
Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
    wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

Lecture Against Gang Behavior

My child, may you keep[b] your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teachings,
for they are a garland of favor for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:5 Or “guidance”
  2. Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”

23 Turn you at my reproof:
Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you;
I will make known my words unto you.

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23 May you turn to my argument![a]
    Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;
    I will make my words known to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Or “turn at my reproach”

My son, if thou wilt receive my words,
And lay up my commandments with thee;
So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom,
And apply thy heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou cry after discernment,
And lift up thy voice for understanding;
If thou seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hid treasures:
Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah,
And find the knowledge of God.
For Jehovah giveth wisdom;
Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:

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The Benefits of Wisdom

My child, if you will receive[a] my sayings,
    and hide my commands with you,
in order to incline your ear toward wisdom,
    then you shall apply your heart to understanding.
For if you cry out for understanding,[b]
    if you lift[c] your voice for insight,
if you seek her like silver
    and search her out like treasure,[d]
then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
    and the knowledge of God you will find.
For Yahweh will give wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:1 Or “take, seize”
  2. Proverbs 2:3 Or “call to understanding”
  3. Proverbs 2:3 Or “carry, give”
  4. Proverbs 2:4 Literally “like the treasures”

When pride cometh, then cometh shame;
But with the lowly is wisdom.

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Pride comes, then disgrace comes,
    but wisdom is with the humble.

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15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes;
But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.

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15 The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes,
    but he who listens to advice is wise.

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13 A wise son heareth his father’s [a]instruction;
But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 Or, correction

13 A wise child hears the discipline of a father,
    but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.

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10 By pride cometh only contention;
But with the well-advised is wisdom.

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10 Only by insolence is strife set up,
    and wisdom is with those who take advice.

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20 [a]Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise;
But the companion of fools shall [b]smart for it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:20 According to another reading, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.
  2. Proverbs 13:20 Hebrew be broken.

20 Walk with the wise and be wise,
    but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.

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A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not;
But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
[a]Go into the presence of a foolish man,
And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way;
But the folly of fools is deceit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:7 Or, Go from . . . For thou wilt not etc.

A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none,
    but knowledge comes easily to him who understands.[a]
Leave the presence of a foolish man,[b]
    for you will not come to know words of knowledge.[c]
The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:6 Literally “to one who understands it comes easy”
  2. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “from the presence belonging to a man of foolishness”
  3. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “lips of knowledge”

18 The simple inherit folly;
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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18 The simple are adorned with folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.

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29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding;
But he that is hasty of spirit [a]exalteth folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Or, carrieth away

29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but the hasty of spirit[a] exalts folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Or “breath”

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding;
[a]But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Or, And in the midst of fools it maketh itself known

33 In the heart[a] of him who has understanding, wisdom rests,
    but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Or “mind”