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

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Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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The Value of Wisdom

(A)My son, (B)if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice (C)for understanding,
if you seek it like (D)silver
    and search for it as for (E)hidden treasures,
then (F)you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.

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The Benefits of Wisdom

My child,[a] listen to what I say,
    and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
    and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
    and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
    seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
    and you will gain knowledge of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Hebrew My son.

(A)Be not wise in your own eyes;
    (B)fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be (C)healing to your flesh[a]
    and (D)refreshment[b] to your bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:8 Hebrew navel
  2. Proverbs 3:8 Or medicine

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
    Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body
    and strength for your bones.

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13 (A)The fear of the Lord is (B)hatred of evil.
(C)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and (D)perverted speech I hate.

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13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
    Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
    corruption and perverse speech.

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10 (A)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and (B)the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

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10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
    Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

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27 (A)The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
    (B)but the years of the wicked will be short.

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27 Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.

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Whoever (A)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is (B)devious in his ways despises him.

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Those who follow the right path fear the Lord;
    those who take the wrong path despise him.

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26 In the fear of the Lord one has (A)strong confidence,
    and (B)his children will have (C)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (D)a fountain of life,
    that one may (E)turn away from the snares of death.

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26 Those who fear the Lord are secure;
    he will be a refuge for their children.

27 Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;
    it offers escape from the snares of death.

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16 (A)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.

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16 Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,
    than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

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33 (A)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and (B)humility comes before honor.

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33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;
    humility precedes honor.

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By (A)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by (B)the fear of the Lord one (C)turns away from evil.

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Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
    By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.

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23 The fear of the Lord (A)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests (B)satisfied;
    he will (C)not be visited by harm.

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23 Fear of the Lord leads to life,
    bringing security and protection from harm.

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