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a wise man will hear and will increase learning,
    and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
to understand a proverb and the interpretation,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Prologue: Embrace Wisdom

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
    and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
for they will be a garland of grace on your head,
    and chains about your neck.

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23 Turn at my reproof;
    surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
    I will make my words known to you.

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The Value of Wisdom

My son, if you will receive my words,
    and hide my commandments within you,
so that you incline your ear to wisdom,
    and apply your heart to understanding;
yes, if you cry out for knowledge,
    and lift up your voice for understanding,
if you seek her as silver,
    and search for her as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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When pride comes, then comes shame;
    but with the humble is wisdom.

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15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but he who listens to counsel is wise.

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13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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10 Only by pride comes contention,
    but with the well-advised is wisdom.

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20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
    but a companion of fools will be destroyed.

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A scorner seeks wisdom and does not find it,
    but knowledge is easy to him who understands.

Go from the presence of a foolish man,
    when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

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

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29 He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding,
    but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.

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33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
    but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

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14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

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31 The ear that hears the reproof of life
    abides among the wise.

32 He who refuses instruction despises his own soul,
    but he who hears reproof gains understanding.

33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
    and before honor is humility.

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16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
    And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver!

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21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,
    and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.

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24 Wisdom is before him who has understanding,
    but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

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15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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20 Hear counsel and receive instruction,
    that you may be wise in your latter days.

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Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.

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18 Every purpose is established by counsel,
    and with good advice wage war.

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11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise;
    and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

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Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying One

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
    and apply your heart to my knowledge;
18 for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
    they will readily be fitted in your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made known to you this day, even to you.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things
    in counsels and knowledge,
21 that I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
    that you might answer the words of truth
    to those who send to you?

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Saying Sixteen

19 Hear, my son, and be wise;
    and guide your heart in the way.

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