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

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The Major Theme

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 Or instruction

32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,(A)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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32 Indeed, the waywardness[a] of the naïve will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:32 So MT; DSS 4QProva reads narrow-mindedness; lit. the pull of; LXX reads Because they would wrong the naïve, they will be murdered

35 The wise will inherit honor,
but he holds up fools to dishonor.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but he holds fools up for ridicule.

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14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.(A)

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14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[a] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.(A)

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21 What the righteous person says[a] nourishes many,
    but fools die because they lack discerning[b] hearts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:21 Lit. The lips of the righteous
  2. Proverbs 10:21 The Heb. lacks discerning

23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,(A)
so wisdom is for a person of understanding.

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23 Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy,
    so is wisdom to the discerning man.

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29 The one who brings ruin on his household(A)
will inherit the wind,(B)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

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

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The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,[a]
but the lips of the wise protect them.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14:3 Some emend to In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back

What a fool says brings[a] a rod to his back,
    but the words of the wise protect them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit. The mouth of the fool

The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

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The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,
    but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

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Fools mock at making reparation,[a]
but there is goodwill among the upright.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:9 Or at guilt offerings

Fools make fun of guilt,
    but among the upright there are good intentions.

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16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil,(A)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 14:16 Or and falls

16 The wise person fears and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

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24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

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24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

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