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Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 3:13-20, Proverbs 4:5-13, Proverbs 5:1-2, Proverbs 8:1-9:6, Proverbs 9:10-12, Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 14:33, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 16:16, Proverbs 17:24
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Proverbs 1:7
New International Version

7 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom(B) and instruction.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
Listen to Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 3:13-20, Proverbs 4:5-13, Proverbs 5:1-2, Proverbs 8:1-9:6, Proverbs 9:10-12, Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 14:33, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 16:16, Proverbs 17:24
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Proverbs 1:7
New American Standard Bible

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

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Psalm 150
Proverbs 2
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Proverbs 2:6
New International Version

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;(A)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(B)

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Proverbs 2:6
New American Standard Bible

6 For (A)the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Proverbs 1
Proverbs 3
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Proverbs 3:13-20
New International Version

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)

19 By wisdom(I) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(J)
    by understanding he set the heavens(K) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

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Proverbs 3:13-20
New American Standard Bible

13 (A)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [a]her (B)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (C)more precious than [b]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [c](D)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (E)riches and honor.
17 Her (F)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (G)peace.
18 She is a (H)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth (I)by wisdom,
He (J)established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the (K)ocean depths were burst open,
And the (L)clouds drip with dew.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
  2. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  3. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
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Proverbs 2
Proverbs 4
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Proverbs 4:5-13
New International Version

5 Get wisdom,(A) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(B)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(C)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(D) you have,[b] get understanding.(E)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(F)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(G)”

10 Listen, my son,(H) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(I)
11 I instruct(J) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(K)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(L)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
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Proverbs 4:5-13
New American Standard Bible

5 (A)Acquire wisdom! (B)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
(C)Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 (D)The [a]beginning of wisdom is: (E)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
8 (F)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place (G)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

10 Listen, my son, and (H)accept 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 paths.
12 When you walk, your (K)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you (L)will not stumble.
13 (M)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (N)life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom
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Proverbs 3
Proverbs 5
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Proverbs 5:1-2
New International Version

Warning Against Adultery

5 My son,(A) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words(B) of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.

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Proverbs 5:1-2
New American Standard Bible

Pitfalls of Immorality

5 My son, (A)pay attention to my wisdom,
(B)Incline your ear to my understanding,
2 So that you may (C)maintain discretion
And your (D)lips may comply with knowledge.

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Proverbs 4
Proverbs 6
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Proverbs 8:1-9:6
New International Version

Wisdom’s Call

8 Does not wisdom call out?(A)
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:(B)
4 “To you, O people, I call out;(C)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,(F)
    for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,(G)
11 for wisdom is more precious(H) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(I)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(J)
13 To fear the Lord(K) is to hate evil;(L)
    I hate(M) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(N)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(O) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(P)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(Q)
    and those who seek me find me.(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,(S)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(U)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(W)
    along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.(X)

22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
    before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;(Y)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(Z)
    before the hills, I was given birth,(AA)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.(AB)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(AC)
    when he marked out the horizon(AD) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(AE)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(AF)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(AG)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,(AH)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(AI)
30     Then I was constantly[e] at his side.(AJ)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.(AK)

32 “Now then, my children, listen(AL) to me;
    blessed are(AM) those who keep my ways.(AN)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(AO) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(AP) find life(AQ)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(AR)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(AS)
    all who hate me love death.”(AT)

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

9 Wisdom has built(AU) her house;
    she has set up[f] its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(AV)
    she has also set her table.(AW)
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls(AX)
    from the highest point of the city,(AY)
4     “Let all who are simple(AZ) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(BA) she says,
5     “Come,(BB) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.(BC)
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;(BD)
    walk in the way of insight.”(BE)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
  2. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
  4. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
  5. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
  6. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
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Proverbs 8:1-9:6
New American Standard Bible

The Commendation of Wisdom

8 Does not (A)wisdom call,
And understanding [a]raise her voice?
2 On top of (B)the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the (C)gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 “To you, people, I call,
And my voice is to [b]mankind.
5 You (D)naive ones, understand prudence;
And, you (E)fools, understand [c]wisdom!
6 Listen, for I will speak (F)noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal (G)right things.
7 For my (H)mouth will proclaim truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing (I)crooked or perverted in them.
9 They are all (J)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who (K)find knowledge.
10 Accept my (L)instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is (M)better than [d]jewels;
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 the Lord is to hate evil;
(R)Pride, arrogance, (S)the evil way,
And the (T)perverted mouth, I hate.
14 (U)Advice is mine and (V)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (W)power is mine.
15 By me (X)kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 I (Y)love those who love me;
And (Z)those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 (AA)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring (AB)wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AC)better than gold, even pure gold;
And my yield better than (AD)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may (AE)fill their treasuries.

22 “The Lord [e]created me (AF)at the beginning of His way,
Before His works [f]of old.
23 From eternity I was [g](AG)established,
From the beginning, (AH)from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no (AI)ocean depths, I was born,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 (AJ)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was born;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the [h]fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 When He (AK)established the heavens, I was there;
When (AL)He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became [i]fixed,
29 When (AM)He set a boundary for the sea
So that the water would not violate His [j]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 His delight daily,
[k]Rejoicing always before Him,
31 [l]Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having (AP)my delight in the sons of mankind.

32 “Now then, sons, (AQ)listen to me,
For (AR)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (AS)Listen to instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 (AT)Blessed is the person who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35 For (AU)one who finds me finds life,
And (AV)obtains favor from the Lord.
36 But one who [m]sins against me (AW)injures himself;
All those who (AX)hate me (AY)love death.”

Wisdom’s Invitation

9 Wisdom has (AZ)built her house,
She has carved out her seven pillars;
2 She has [n](BA)prepared her food, she has (BB)mixed her wine;
She has also (BC)set her table;
3 She has (BD)sent out her attendants, she (BE)calls out
From the (BF)tops of the heights of the city:
4 “(BG)Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who (BH)lacks [o]understanding she says,
5 “Come, (BI)eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 [p]Abandon your foolishness and (BJ)live,
And (BK)proceed in the way of understanding.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:1 Lit give
  2. Proverbs 8:4 Lit sons of mankind
  3. Proverbs 8:5 Lit heart
  4. Proverbs 8:11 Lit corals
  5. Proverbs 8:22 Or possessed
  6. Proverbs 8:22 Lit from then
  7. Proverbs 8:23 Or consecrated
  8. Proverbs 8:26 Lit outside places
  9. Proverbs 8:28 Lit strong
  10. Proverbs 8:29 Lit mouth
  11. Proverbs 8:30 Or Playing
  12. Proverbs 8:31 Or Playing
  13. Proverbs 8:36 Or misses me
  14. Proverbs 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter
  15. Proverbs 9:4 Lit heart
  16. Proverbs 9:6 Or Abandon the naive
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Proverbs 7
Proverbs 10
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Proverbs 9:10-12
New International Version

10 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(B) is understanding.(C)
11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(D)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me
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Proverbs 9:10-12
New American Standard Bible

10 The (A)fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (B)by me your days will be multiplied,
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 [a]suffer from it.

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  1. Proverbs 9:12 Lit bear
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Proverbs 8
Proverbs 10
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Proverbs 11:2
New International Version

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(A)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(B)

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Proverbs 11:2
New American Standard Bible

2 When (A)pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.

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Proverbs 10
Proverbs 12
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Proverbs 14:33
New International Version

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(A)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[a]

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  1. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
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Proverbs 14:33
New American Standard Bible

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But among fools it is made known.

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Proverbs 13
Proverbs 15
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Proverbs 15:33
New International Version

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(A)
    and humility comes before honor.(B)

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Proverbs 15:33
New American Standard Bible

33 [a]The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.

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  1. Proverbs 15:33 Or Reverence for
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Proverbs 14
Proverbs 16
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Proverbs 16:16
New International Version

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight(A) rather than silver!(B)

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Proverbs 16:16
New American Standard Bible

16 How much (A)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

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Proverbs 15
Proverbs 17
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Proverbs 17:24
New International Version

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

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Proverbs 17:24
New American Standard Bible

24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the (A)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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Proverbs 16
Proverbs 18
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