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Let the wise man hear and (A)increase in learning,
And a (B)man of understanding will acquire guidance,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their (C)riddles.

(D)The fear of [a]Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
[b]Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.

The Enticement of Sinners

(E)Hear, my son, your father’s discipline
And (F)do not abandon your mother’s [c]instruction;
For they are a (G)garland of grace for your head
And [d](H)ornaments about your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
  2. Proverbs 1:7 One who lacks wisdom due to negligence or carelessness; so in Prov
  3. Proverbs 1:8 Or law
  4. Proverbs 1:9 Lit necklaces

let the wise, too, hear and gain in learning
    and the discerning acquire skill,(A)
to understand a proverb and a figure,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.(B)

Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teaching,(C)
for they are a fair garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.(D)

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23 Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will (A)pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

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23 Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
    I will make my words known to you.(A)

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Yahweh Gives Wisdom

My son, if you will (A)receive my words
And (B)treasure my commandments within you,
(C)To make your ear pay attention to wisdom,
Incline your heart to discernment;
For if you call out for understanding,
Give your voice for discernment;
If you seek her as (D)silver
And search for her as for (E)hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the (F)fear of Yahweh
And find the knowledge of God.
For (G)Yahweh gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and discernment.

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The Value of Wisdom

My child, if you accept my words
    and treasure up my commandments within you,(A)
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding,
if you indeed cry out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures—(B)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(C)
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;(D)

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When (A)arrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.

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When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but wisdom is with the humble.(A)

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15 The (A)way of an ignorant fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

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15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to advice.(A)

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13 A (A)wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a (B)scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father

10 With arrogance [a]comes only quarreling,
But with those who receive counsel is wisdom.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:10 Lit gives

10 By insolence the empty-headed person makes strife,
    but wisdom is with those who take advice.(A)

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20 (A)He who walks with the wise will be wise,
But the friend of fools will suffer harm.

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20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.(A)

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A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
Leave the (A)presence of a fool,
As you have not known lips of knowledge there.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But (B)the folly of fools is deceit.

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A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not find words of knowledge.
It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,
    but the folly of fools misleads.(A)

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18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are [a]crowned with knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:18 Lit surrounded

18 The simple are adorned with[a] folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14.18 Or inherit

29 He who is (A)slow to anger has great discernment,
But he who is [a]quick-tempered raises up folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Lit short of spirit

29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.(A)

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33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the midst of fools it is merely made known.

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33 Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
    but it is not[a] known in the heart of fools.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14.33 Gk Syr: Heb lacks not