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

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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 advice.(A)

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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 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

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

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

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

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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 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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(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 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

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

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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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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 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

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