let the wise listen and add to their learning,(A)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(B)
    the sayings and riddles(C) of the wise.[a](D)

The fear of the Lord(E) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[b] despise wisdom(F) and instruction.(G)

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(H) to your father’s(I) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(J)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  2. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

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 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.

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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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Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,(A) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding(B)
indeed, if you call out for insight(C)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(D)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(E)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(F)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(G)

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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 pride comes, then comes disgrace,(A)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(B)

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

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15 The way of fools seems right to them,(A)
    but the wise listen to advice.(B)

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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 wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

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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 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(A)

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

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20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.(A)

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

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The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(A)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(B)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(C)

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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 crowned with knowledge.

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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 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(A)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(B)

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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 reposes in the heart of the discerning(A)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known

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