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Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
    Let those with understanding receive guidance
by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

My child,[a] listen when your father corrects you.
    Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
    and be a chain of honor around your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:8 Hebrew My son; also in 1:10, 15.

Let the wise hear and (A)increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
    (B)the words of the wise and their (C)riddles.

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

The Enticement of Sinners

(E)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
for they are (F)a graceful garland for your head
    and (G)pendants for your neck.

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23 Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
    and make you wise.

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23 If you turn at my reproof,[a]
behold, I will (A)pour out my spirit to you;
    I will make my words known to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?

The Benefits of Wisdom

My child,[a] listen to what I say,
    and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
    and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
    and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
    seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
    and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Hebrew My son.

The Value of Wisdom

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

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Pride leads to disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

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

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15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to others.

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15 (A)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.

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13 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]
    a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Hebrew A wise son accepts his father’s discipline.

13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but (A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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10 Pride leads to conflict;
    those who take advice are wise.

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10 (A)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.

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20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

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20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

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A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,
    but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.

Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

The prudent understand where they are going,
    but fools deceive themselves.

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(A)A scoffer seeks wisdom (B)in vain,
    but (C)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.

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18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,[a]
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:18 Or inherit foolishness.

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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29 People with understanding control their anger;
    a hot temper shows great foolishness.

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

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33 Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
    wisdom is not[a] found among fools.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:33 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew lacks not.

33 Wisdom (A)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools