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The fear of Yahweh[a] is the beginning of knowledge;
    but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

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

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22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
    and fools hate knowledge?

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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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32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
    The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

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

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You simple, understand prudence!
    You fools, be of an understanding heart!

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

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13 The foolish woman is loud,
    undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
    as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
    Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.

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

The wise in heart accept commandments,
    but a chattering fool will fall.

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

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18 He who hides hatred has lying lips.
    He who utters a slander is a fool.

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

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23 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,
    but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

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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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29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
    The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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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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15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but he who is wise listens to counsel.
16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day,
    but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

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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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23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

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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

16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge,
    but a fool exposes folly.

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

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