The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom(B) and instruction.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(A)

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35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

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14 The wise store up knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(B)

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

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23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(A)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

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29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(A)

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A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(A)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(B)

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The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(A)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(B)

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Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

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16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(A)
    but a fool(B) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

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24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(A)

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33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(A)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(B)

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A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(A)

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The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

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22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(A)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

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Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!(A)

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10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

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12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.(A)

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16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?(A)

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21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(A)

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24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

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