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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.(A)
Proverbs 2:6
English Standard Version
6 For (A)the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Proverbs 2:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The True Wealth
13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
and her revenue better than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(B)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.(C)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.(D)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.(E)
God’s Wisdom in Creation
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;(F)
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.(G)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away
from the words of my mouth.(A)
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.(B)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
and whatever else you get, get insight.(C)
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.(D)
9 She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”(E)
Admonition to Keep to the Right Path
10 Hear, my child, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.(F)
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.(G)
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your 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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Warning against Impurity and Infidelity
5 My child, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,(A)
2 so that you may hold on to prudence,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Gifts of Wisdom
8 Does not wisdom call
and understanding raise her voice?(A)
2 On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:(B)
4 “To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all who live.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
acquire intelligence, you who lack it.(C)
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,(D)
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.(E)
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all straight to one who understands
and right to those who find knowledge.(F)
10 Take my instruction instead of silver
and knowledge rather than choice gold,(G)
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.(H)
12 I, wisdom, live with prudence,
and I attain knowledge and discretion.(I)
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.(J)
14 I have good advice and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.(K)
15 By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;(L)
16 by me rulers rule,
and nobles, all who govern rightly.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.(M)
18 Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and prosperity.(N)
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.(O)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 endowing with wealth those who love me
and filling their treasuries.
Wisdom’s Part in Creation
22 “The Lord created me at the beginning[a] of his work,[b]
the first of his acts of long ago.(P)
23 Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.(Q)
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,(R)
26 when he had not yet made earth and fields[c]
or the world’s first bits of soil.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,(S)
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,(T)
30 then I was beside him, like a master worker,[d]
and I was daily his[e] delight,
playing before him always,(U)
31 playing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.(V)
32 “And now, my children, listen to me:
happy are those who keep my ways.(W)
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.(X)
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,(Y)
36 but those who miss me injure themselves;
all who hate me love death.”(Z)
Wisdom’s Feast
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.(AA)
2 She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.(AB)
3 She has sent out her female servants; she calls
from the highest places in the town,(AC)
4 “You who are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,(AD)
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.(AE)
6 Lay aside immaturity and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”(AF)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.(A)
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.(B)
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.(C)
Proverbs 11:2
English Standard Version
Proverbs 11:2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but wisdom is with the humble.(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
33 Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
but it is not[a] known in the heart of fools.(A)
Footnotes
- 14.33 Gk Syr: Heb lacks not
Proverbs 15:33
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility goes before honor.(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(A)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.