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

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Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
    wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

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

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32 for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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

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Footnotes

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

35 They will inherit the honor of the wise,
    but stubborn fools, disgrace.

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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 lay up knowledge,
    but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

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

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21 Lips of righteousness feed many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:21 Literally “in the lack of heart, they die”

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

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23 It is like a sport for a fool to do wrong,
    wisdom for a person of understanding.

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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 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[a]
    and a fool will serve the wise of heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:29 Or “breath, spirit”

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

In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.

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

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The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Or at guilt offerings

Fools mock[a] the guilt offering,
    but among the upright, it is favorable.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew “he mocks”

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:16 Or and falls

16 The wise is cautious and turns from evil,
    but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.

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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;
    the folly of fools is folly.

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