a wise man will listen and increase his learning,(A)
and a discerning man will obtain guidance—
for understanding a proverb or a parable,[a]
the words of the wise, and their riddles.(B)

The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;(C)
fools despise wisdom and discipline.(D)

Avoid the Path of the Violent

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,(E)
for they will be a garland(F) of grace on your head
and a gold chain around your neck.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:6 Or an enigma

The wise hear them and grow in wisdom;
    those with understanding gain guidance.
They help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings,
    the words of the wise, and their puzzles.
Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Avoid evil associations

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction;
    don’t neglect your mother’s teaching;
        for they are a graceful wreath on your head,
        and beads for your neck.

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23 If you respond to my warning,[a](A)
then I will pour out my spirit on you(B)
and teach you my words.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Lit back to my reprimand

23 You should respond when I correct you.
    Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you.
    I’ll reveal my words to you.

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Wisdom’s Worth

My son, if you accept my words(A)
and store up my commands within you,
listening closely[a] to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;
furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,(B)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:2 Lit you, stretching out your ear

Benefits of wisdom

My son, accept my words
    and store up my commands.
Turn your ear toward wisdom,
    and stretch your mind toward understanding.
Call out for insight,
    and cry aloud for understanding.
Seek it like silver;
    search for it like hidden treasure.
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
    and discover the knowledge of God.
The Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.(A)

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When pride comes, so does shame,
    but wisdom brings humility.

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15 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,(A)
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

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15 Fools see their own way as right,
    but the wise listen to advice.

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13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

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13 A wise son listens to[a] the discipline of his father,
    but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 Heb lacks listens to.

10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(A)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

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10 The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
    those who take advice are wise.

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20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

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20 Walk with wise people and become wise;
    befriend fools and get in trouble.

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A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(A)

The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

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A mocker searches for wisdom and gets none,
    but knowledge comes quickly to the intelligent.
Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t learn wise speech there.
By their wisdom the prudent understand their way,
    but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

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18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

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18 Stupidity is the lot of the naive,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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29 A patient person shows great understanding,(A)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

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29 Patience leads to abundant understanding,
    but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.

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33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;(A)
she is known[a] even among fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 LXX reads unknown

33 Wisdom resides in an understanding heart,
    but it’s not[a] known in fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 LXX; MT lacks not.