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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 person should listen, and he will increase learning.
A person with understanding should obtain guidance
so he will understand proverbs, puzzling statements,[a]
and the thought-provoking words of the wise.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of[b] knowledge,
but stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Solomon’s Speeches About Wisdom

First Address to a Son:
Avoid the Company of Sinners

Listen, my son, to your father’s discipline,
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching,
because they are a garland of grace for your head.
They are jewelry for your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:6 Or enigmas
  2. Proverbs 1:7 Or prerequisite for or most important part of

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,
I will pour out my spirit for you.
I will make my words known to you.

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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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Second Address to a Son: Wisdom Provides Protection

My son, if you accept my words,
if you store up my commands within you,
    by paying attention[a] to wisdom with your ear,
    by reaching out for understanding with your heart,
if indeed you call out for intelligence,
if you raise your voice for understanding,
if you search for it like silver,
if you hunt for it like hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
then you will find the knowledge of God,
because the Lord gives wisdom.
Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:2 Or so you can pay attention

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

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When arrogance comes, shame follows,
but with humility comes 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 The way of a stubborn fool seems correct to him,
but whoever listens to advice 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

Wise Ways to Live

13 A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
but a scornful son does not listen to a reprimand.

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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 Insolence produces only strife,
but wisdom resides with 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 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but a companion of fools suffers 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 scoffer seeks wisdom yet finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
Keep away from a foolish person,
since you will not learn anything from his lips.
The wisdom of a sensible[a] person is that he understands his way,
but the stupidity of fools is deceptive.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:8 Or prudent
  2. Proverbs 14:8 Or deceives them

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 Gullible people inherit stupidity,
but sensible people embrace 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 has great understanding,
but an impatient person exalts 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 rests in the heart of the discerning.
It can be recognized even among fools.

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