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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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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

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 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

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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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

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

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

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

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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 responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t 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 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(A)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

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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 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a 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 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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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 inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible 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 A patient person shows great understanding,(A)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

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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 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