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
Revised Standard Version
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:6
Legacy Standard Bible
6 For (A)Yahweh gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and discernment.
Proverbs 2:6
Revised Standard Version
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
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
Revised Standard Version
The True Wealth
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from it is better than gain from silver
and its profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.
God’s Wisdom in Creation
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke forth,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
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
Revised Standard Version
5 do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom; get insight.[a]
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly,[b] and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
Admonition to Keep to the Right Path
10 Hear, my son, 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.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction, do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:5 Reversing the order of the lines
- Proverbs 4:8 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
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
Revised Standard Version
Warning against Impurity and Infidelity
5 My son, be attentive to my wisdom,
incline your ear to my understanding;
2 that you may keep discretion,
and 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
Revised Standard Version
The Gifts of Wisdom
8 Does not wisdom call,
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way,
in the paths she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
O foolish men, pay attention.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right;
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all straight to him who understands
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell in prudence,[a]
and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom,
I have insight, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles govern[b] the earth.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in 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 of his work,[c]
the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
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;
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,[d]
or the first of the dust[e] of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established[f] 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,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman;[g]
and I was daily his[h] delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the sons of men.
32 And now, my sons, listen to me:
happy are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For he who finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord;
36 but he who misses me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”
Wisdom’s Feast
9 Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up[i] her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maids to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who is without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave simpleness,[j] and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:12 Heb obscure
- Proverbs 8:16 Gk: Heb all the governors of
- Proverbs 8:22 Heb way
- Proverbs 8:26 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:26 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:30 Another reading is little child
- Proverbs 8:30 Gk: Heb lacks his
- Proverbs 9:1 Gk Syr Tg: Heb hewn
- Proverbs 9:6 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb simple ones
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
Revised Standard Version
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 11:2
Legacy Standard Bible
2 When (A)arrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2
Revised Standard Version
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
but with the humble is 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
Revised Standard Version
33 Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding,
but it is not[a] known in the heart of fools.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:33 Gk Syr: Heb lacks not
Proverbs 15:33
Legacy Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:33 Or reverence
- Proverbs 15:33 Lit of
Proverbs 15:33
Revised Standard Version
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility goes 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
Revised Standard Version
16 To get wisdom is better[a] than gold;
to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:16 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb how much better
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
Revised Standard Version
24 A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
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