Proverbs 1:7
English Standard Version
7 (A)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
New Living Translation
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 2:6
English Standard Version
6 For (A)the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Proverbs 2:6
New Living Translation
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:13-20
English Standard Version
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 (A)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 (B)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than (C)gold.
15 She is more precious than (D)jewels,
and (E)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (F)Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are (G)riches and honor.
17 Her (H)ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (I)a tree of life to those who (J)lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 (K)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding (L)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (M)the deeps broke open,
and (N)the clouds drop down the dew.
Proverbs 3:13-20
New Living Translation
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
Proverbs 4:5-13
English Standard Version
5 (A)Get wisdom; get (B)insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
(C)love her, and she will guard you.
7 (D)The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get (E)insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will (F)honor you (G)if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head (H)a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10 (I)Hear, (J)my son, and accept my words,
that (K)the years of your life may be many.
11 I have (L)taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, (M)your step will not be hampered,
and (N)if you run, you will not stumble.
13 (O)Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your (P)life.
Proverbs 4:5-13
New Living Translation
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child,[a] listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
Proverbs 5:1-2
English Standard Version
Warning Against Adultery
5 (A)My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
(B)incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep (C)discretion,
and your lips may (D)guard knowledge.
Proverbs 5:1-2
New Living Translation
Avoid Immoral Women
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
Proverbs 8:1-9:6
English Standard Version
The Blessings of Wisdom
8 Does not (A)wisdom call?
Does not (B)understanding raise her voice?
2 On (C)the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside (D)the gates in front of (E)the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O (F)men, I call,
and my cry is to (G)the children of man.
5 O (H)simple ones, learn (I)prudence;
O (J)fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak (K)noble things,
and from my lips will come (L)what is right,
7 for my (M)mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing (N)twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all (O)straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 (P)Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 (Q)for wisdom is better than jewels,
and (R)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and (S)discretion.
13 (T)The fear of the Lord is (U)hatred of evil.
(V)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and (W)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (X)counsel and (Y)sound wisdom;
I have insight; (Z)I have strength.
15 By me (AA)kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
17 (AB)I love those who love me,
and (AC)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (AD)Riches and honor are with me,
(AE)enduring wealth and (AF)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AG)better than (AH)gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than (AI)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
22 (AJ)“The Lord (AK)possessed[b] me at the beginning of his work,[c]
the first of his acts (AL)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (AM)set up,
at the first, (AN)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (AO)depths I was (AP)brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains (AQ)had been shaped,
(AR)before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he (AS)established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew (AT)a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he (AU)made firm the skies above,
when he established[d] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he (AV)assigned to the sea its (AW)limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out (AX)the foundations of the earth,
30 then (AY)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[e] (AZ)delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 (BA)rejoicing in his (BB)inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, (BC)O sons, listen to me:
(BD)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (BE)Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 (BF)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For (BG)whoever finds me (BH)finds life
and (BI)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (BJ)injures himself;
all who (BK)hate me (BL)love death.”
The Way of Wisdom
9 (BM)Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her (BN)seven (BO)pillars.
2 She has (BP)slaughtered her beasts; she has (BQ)mixed her wine;
she has also (BR)set her table.
3 She has (BS)sent out her young women to (BT)call
from (BU)the highest places in the town,
4 (BV)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
(BW)To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, (BX)eat of my bread
and (BY)drink of (BZ)the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave (CA)your simple ways,[f] and (CB)live,
(CC)and walk in the way of insight.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
- Proverbs 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created
- Proverbs 8:22 Hebrew way
- Proverbs 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:30 Or daily filled with
- Proverbs 9:6 Or Leave the company of the simple
Proverbs 8:1-9:6
New Living Translation
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
8 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
7 for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
8 My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]
17 “I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
I will fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30 I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 “And so, my children,[b] listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
2 She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
5 “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
Proverbs 9:10-12
English Standard Version
10 (A)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and (B)the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me (C)your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 (D)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:10-12
New Living Translation
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
11 Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
Proverbs 11:2
English Standard Version
Proverbs 11:2
New Living Translation
2 Pride leads to disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 14:33
English Standard Version
33 Wisdom (A)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools
Proverbs 14:33
New Living Translation
33 Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
wisdom is not[a] found among fools.
Footnotes
- 14:33 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew lacks not.
Proverbs 15:33
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:33
New Living Translation
33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;
humility precedes honor.
Proverbs 16:16
English Standard Version
16 (A)How much better to get wisdom than (B)gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (C)silver.
Proverbs 16:16
New Living Translation
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
and good judgment than silver!
Proverbs 17:24
English Standard Version
24 (A)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24
New Living Translation
24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
