Proverbs 1:7
Legacy Standard Bible
7 (A)The fear of [a]Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
[b]Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:7 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
- Proverbs 1:7 One who lacks wisdom due to negligence or carelessness; so in Prov
Proverbs 1:7
Evangelical Heritage Version
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of[a] knowledge,
but stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:7 Or prerequisite for or most important part of
Proverbs 2:6
Legacy Standard Bible
6 For (A)Yahweh gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and discernment.
Proverbs 2:6
Evangelical Heritage Version
6 because the Lord gives wisdom.
Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.
Proverbs 3:13-20
Legacy Standard Bible
13 (A)How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who obtains discernment.
14 For her (B)profit is better than the profit of silver
And her produce better than fine gold.
15 She is (C)more precious than [a]pearls;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 (D)Length of days is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (E)riches and glory.
17 Her (F)ways are pleasant ways
And all her pathways are (G)peace.
18 She is a (H)tree of life to those who seize her,
And all those who hold her fast are blessed.
19 Yahweh (I)by wisdom founded the earth,
By discernment He (J)established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the (K)deeps were split up
And the (L)skies drip with dew.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:15 Or corals
Proverbs 3:13-20
Evangelical Heritage Version
13 How blessed is the person who finds wisdom,[a]
the person who acquires understanding,
14 because the profit it gives is better than the profit from silver,
and its yield is better than gold!
15 It is more valuable than gems,[b]
and nothing you desire can equal it.
16 In its right hand are the days of a long life.
In its left hand are riches and honor.
17 Its ways are pleasant ways,
and all its paths are peace.
18 It is a tree of life for those who hold on to it.
Those who cling to it are blessed.
19 The Lord founded the earth by wisdom.
He established the heavens by understanding.
20 By his knowledge the deep waters were divided,
and the clouds drip dew.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:13 Or Wisdom. An issue throughout Proverbs 1-9 is when wisdom should be capitalized as the personal name of Lady Wisdom and when it is the common noun. Most translations do not capitalize wisdom in verses like verse 13 because of the parallelism with understanding. This decision also determines whether the English pronouns should be she or it. In Hebrew the noun for wisdom is feminine, so the pronouns in Hebrew are always feminine.
- Proverbs 3:15 The meaning of this word is uncertain. It may refer to a specific gemstone, such as rubies or red coral.
Proverbs 4:5-13
Legacy Standard Bible
5 (A)Acquire wisdom! (B)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget and do not turn away from the sayings of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
(C)Love her, and she will guard you.
7 [a](D)The beginning of wisdom is: (E)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, acquire understanding.
8 (F)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will give (G)for your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Hear, my son, and (H)receive my sayings
And the (I)years of your life will be many.
11 I have (J)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright tracks.
12 When you walk, your (K)steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you (L)will not stumble.
13 (M)Seize discipline; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (N)life.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or The primary thing is wisdom
Proverbs 4:5-13
Evangelical Heritage Version
5 Acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding.
Do not forget,
and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon it, and it will watch over you.
Love it and it will guard you.”
7 The beginning of wisdom is to obtain Wisdom.
Give up everything you have, in order to gain Understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you.
She will honor you when you embrace her.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head.
She will present you with a beautiful crown.
Fifth Address to a Son:
The Difference Between the Wicked and the Righteous
10 Listen, my son, and accept my words,
so that the years of your life will be many.
11 I have instructed you in the way of wisdom.
I have led you along straight paths.[a]
12 When you walk, your stride will not be hindered.
Even if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to discipline. Do not let go.
Guard it, because it is your life.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:11 Or on the right track
Proverbs 5:1-2
Legacy Standard Bible
Warning Against Adultery
5 My son, (A)pay attention to my wisdom,
(B)Incline your ear to my discernment;
2 That you may (C)keep discretion
And that your (D)lips may guard knowledge.
Proverbs 5:1-2
Evangelical Heritage Version
Seventh Address to a Son:
Wisdom Teaches You to Avoid Adultery
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
Open your ears to my understanding,
2 so that you may hold on to insight,
so your lips may guard knowledge,
Proverbs 8:1-9:6
Legacy Standard Bible
The Blessing of Wisdom
8 Does not (A)wisdom call,
And discernment give forth her voice?
2 At the top of (B)the heights upon the way,
Where the pathways meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the (C)gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she makes a shout:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O (D)simple ones, understand prudence;
And, O (E)fools, understand a heart of wisdom.
6 Listen, for I will speak (F)noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal (G)upright things.
7 For my (H)mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing (I)twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all (J)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who (K)find knowledge.
10 Take my (L)discipline and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest fine gold.
11 For wisdom is (M)better than pearls;
And (N)all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, (O)dwell with prudence,
And I find (P)knowledge and discretion.
13 The (Q)fear of Yahweh is to hate evil;
(R)Pride and arrogance and (S)the evil way
And the mouth of [a](T)perverted words, I hate.
14 (U)Counsel is mine and (V)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (W)might is mine.
15 By me (X)kings reign,
And rulers mark out righteousness.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 I (Y)love those who love me;
And (Z)those who earnestly seek me will find me.
18 (AA)Riches and glory are with me,
Enduring (AB)wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AC)better than fine gold, even pure gold,
And my produce better than (AD)choice silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness,
In the midst of the pathways of justice,
21 To give those who love me an inheritance of wealth,
That I may (AE)fill their treasuries.
22 “Yahweh possessed me (AF)at the beginning of His way,
Before His deeds [b]of old.
23 From everlasting I was [c](AG)installed,
From the beginning, (AH)from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no (AI)depths I was [d]brought forth,
When there were no springs heavy with water.
25 (AJ)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was [e]brought forth;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields outside,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 When He (AK)established the heavens, I was there,
When (AL)He marked out a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became strong,
29 When (AM)He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not pass over His [f]command,
When He marked out (AN)the foundations of the earth;
30 Then (AO)I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was a daily delight,
[g]Rejoicing always before Him,
31 [h]Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
(AP)My delight is in the sons of men.
32 “So now, O sons, (AQ)listen to me,
For (AR)blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 (AS)Hear discipline and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 (AT)How blessed is the man who hears me,
To watch daily at my doors,
To keep watch at my doorposts.
35 For (AU)he who finds me finds life
And (AV)obtains favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who [i]sins against me (AW)does violence to his own soul;
All those who (AX)hate me (AY)love death.”
Wisdom and Foolishness Call Out
9 Wisdom has (AZ)built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has [j](BA)slaughtered her cattle, she has (BB)mixed her wine;
She has also (BC)prepared her table;
3 She has (BD)sent out her maidens, she (BE)calls
From the (BF)tops of the heights of the city:
4 “(BG)Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who (BH)lacks a heart of wisdom she says,
5 “Come, (BI)eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 [k]Forsake your simplicity and (BJ)live,
And (BK)step into the way of understanding.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:13 Lit perversities
- Proverbs 8:22 Lit from then
- Proverbs 8:23 Or consecrated
- Proverbs 8:24 Or born
- Proverbs 8:25 Or born
- Proverbs 8:29 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 8:30 Or Playing
- Proverbs 8:31 Or Playing
- Proverbs 8:36 Or misses me
- Proverbs 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter
- Proverbs 9:6 Or Forsake the simple ones
Proverbs 8:1-9:6
Evangelical Heritage Version
Wisdom’s Invitation
8 Do you hear Wisdom calling out?
Do you hear Understanding raising her voice?
2 On the hills above the roads,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 Beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrance to the doorways, she cries out:
4 I call to you men,
and I raise my voice to the people.
5 You gullible people, get good judgment.[a]
You fools, take this to heart.
6 Listen, because I am speaking noble thoughts.
I open my lips to speak upright things,
7 for my mouth declares truth,
but wickedness is disgusting[b] to my lips.
8 All the words from my mouth are righteous.
There is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 All of them are clear to those who have understanding,
and they are upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Accept my discipline instead of silver.
Accept knowledge rather than fine gold,
11 because Wisdom is better than gems,[c]
and anything you may desire cannot equal her.
Wisdom’s Benefit
12 I, Wisdom, dwell with good judgment.[d]
I discover knowledge and foresight.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate haughtiness, arrogance, an evil way, and a perverse mouth.
14 Good advice and sound judgment are mine.
I, Understanding, have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
and rulers administer justice.
16 By me officials govern,
as well as nobles and all just judges.
17 I certainly love those who love me,
and those who eagerly look for me find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
as well as enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, better than pure gold,
and what I produce is better than fine silver.
20 I walk on the path of righteousness,
down the middle of the pathways of justice,
21 so I can provide a rich inheritance to those who love me,
and I can fill their treasuries.
Wisdom Is the Craftsman of Creation
22 The Lord possessed[e] me at the beginning of his way,
before his works of long ago.
23 From eternity I was appointed,
from the beginning, from before the origin of the earth.
24 When there were no deep waters, I was brought forth,[f]
when there were no springs filled with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 when he had not yet made land or fields
or the first dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he drew the horizon around the surface of the deep,
28 when he placed the clouds in the sky above,
when the fountains of the deep gushed out,
29 when he established his decree for the sea,
so that the waters could not go beyond the limit set by his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 I was beside him as a master craftsman.
I was his joy day after day.
I rejoiced in his presence at all times.
31 I rejoiced in his inhabited world.
I was delighted with the children of Adam.[g]
Wisdom Is the Giver of Life
32 So now, you children, listen to me,
because those who keep my ways are blessed.
33 Listen to discipline and become wise.
Do not neglect it.
34 How blessed is the person who listens to me,
so that he can watch at my doors day after day,
so that he can stand guard beside my front door,
35 because whoever finds me finds life,
and he obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but whoever sins against me harms himself.
All who hate me love death.
Lady Wisdom’s Banquet
9 Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has already set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls.
She calls from the highest point in the city,
4 “Whoever is naïve,[h] let him turn in here.”
To someone who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6 Abandon your naïve ways and live.
Travel the road to understanding.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:5 Or prudence
- Proverbs 8:7 Or repulsive or an abomination
- Proverbs 8:11 Perhaps rubies or red coral
- Proverbs 8:12 Or prudence
- Proverbs 8:22 Or created
- Proverbs 8:24 Or was born. Also in verse 25.
- Proverbs 8:31 Or human race
- Proverbs 9:4 Or inexperienced or gullible
Proverbs 9:10-12
Legacy Standard Bible
10 The (A)fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (B)by me your days will become many,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise (C)for yourself,
And if you (D)scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:10-12
Evangelical Heritage Version
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning[a] of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,
11 because through me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage.
But if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:10 Or prerequisite or most important part
Proverbs 11:2
Legacy Standard Bible
2 When (A)arrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2
Evangelical Heritage Version
2 When arrogance comes, shame follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 14:33
Legacy Standard Bible
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the midst of fools it is merely made known.
Proverbs 14:33
Evangelical Heritage Version
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning.
It can be recognized even among fools.
Proverbs 15:33
Legacy Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:33 Or reverence
- Proverbs 15:33 Lit of
Proverbs 15:33
Evangelical Heritage Version
33 The fear of the Lord gives discipline and wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 16:16
Legacy Standard Bible
16 How much (A)better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold!
And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver.
Proverbs 16:16
Evangelical Heritage Version
16 How much better to acquire wisdom rather than gold,
and to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
Proverbs 17:24
Legacy Standard Bible
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who understands,
But the (A)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24
Evangelical Heritage Version
24 Wisdom is right in front of a discerning person,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the end of the earth.
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