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

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

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22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?(A)

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22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?

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32 For waywardness kills the simple,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;(A)

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32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacence of fools destroys them;

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O simple ones, learn prudence;
    acquire intelligence, you who lack it.(A)

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O simple ones, learn prudence;
    O foolish men, pay attention.

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Folly’s Invitation and Promise

13 The foolish woman is loud;
    she is ignorant and knows nothing.(A)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
    who are going straight on their way,
16 “You who are simple, turn in here!”
    And to those without sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
    and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”(B)
18 But they do not know that the dead[a] are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.18 Heb shades

Folly’s Invitation and Promise

13 A foolish woman is noisy;
    she is wanton[a] and knows no shame.[b]
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    she takes a seat on the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
    who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    And to him who is without sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
    and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead[c] are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:13 Cn Compare Syr Vg: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  2. Proverbs 9:13 Gk Syr: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Proverbs 9:18 Heb shades

The wise of heart will heed commandments,
    but one with foolish lips will come to ruin.(A)

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The wise of heart will heed commandments,
    but a prating fool will come to ruin.

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18 Lying lips conceal hatred,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.

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18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and he who utters slander is a fool.

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23 Doing wrong is like sport to a fool,
    but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.(A)

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23 It is like sport to a fool to do wrong,
    but wise conduct is pleasure to a man of understanding.

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29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.

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29 He who troubles his household will inherit wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.

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15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to advice.(A)
16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.(B)

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15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent man ignores an insult.

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23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[a] broadcasts folly.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools

23 A prudent man conceals his knowledge,
    but fools[a] proclaim their folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 Heb the heart of fools

16 The clever do all things intelligently,
    but the fool displays folly.(A)

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16 In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge,
    but a fool flaunts his folly.

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