Proverbs 1:7
World English Bible
7 The fear of Yahweh[a] is the beginning of knowledge;
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Footnotes
- 1:7 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.
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
World English Bible
6 For Yahweh gives wisdom.
Out of his mouth comes 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
World English Bible
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding.
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies 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
World English Bible
5 Get wisdom.
Get understanding.
Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you.
Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is supreme.
Get wisdom.
Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace.
She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings.
The years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom.
I have led you in straight paths.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered.
When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction.
Don’t let her go.
Keep her, for she is your 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
World English Bible
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
Turn your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may maintain discretion,
that your lips may preserve 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
World English Bible
8 Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 “I call to you men!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 You simple, understand prudence!
You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule,
nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 With me are riches, honor,
enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries.
22 “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,
before his deeds of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
24 When there were no depths, I was born,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was born;
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary,
that the waters should not violate his commandment,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
always rejoicing before him,
31 rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don’t refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my door posts.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life,
and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death.”
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 also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of understanding.”
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
World English Bible
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, 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
World English Bible
2 When pride comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes wisdom.
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
World English Bible
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
and is even made known in the inward part 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
World English Bible
33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom.
Before honor is humility.
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
World English Bible
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than 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
World English Bible
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool wander to 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)
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.
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.