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Proverbs 1:7
New International Version
Proverbs 1:7
New International Version
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
Proverbs 1:7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
Proverbs 2:6
New International Version
Proverbs 2:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
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)
Proverbs 3:13-20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
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)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
Proverbs 4:5-13
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
Proverbs 5:1-2
New International Version
Warning Against Adultery
Proverbs 5:1-2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
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
- Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
- Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
- Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
- 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
- Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
- Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
Proverbs 8:1-9:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
Proverbs 9:10-12
New International Version
Proverbs 9:10-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
Proverbs 11:2
New International Version
Proverbs 11:2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
Proverbs 14:33
New International Version
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
Proverbs 14:33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
Proverbs 15:33
New International Version
Proverbs 15:33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
Proverbs 16:16
New International Version
Proverbs 16:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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
New International Version
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.
Proverbs 17:24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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)
New International Version (NIV) 
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
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.