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

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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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom

Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away
    from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

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Get wisdom,[a] get understanding!
    Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
    love her, and she will safeguard you;
The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom;
    whatever else you get, get understanding.
Extol her, and she will exalt you;
    she will bring you honors if you embrace her;
She will put on your head a graceful diadem;
    a glorious crown will she bestow on you.”

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Footnotes

  1. 4:5, 7 Get wisdom: the same Hebrew word “to get” can mean to acquire merchandise and to acquire a wife (18:22; 31:10); both meanings are in keeping with Proverbs’ metaphors of acquiring wisdom over gold and silver and of acquiring wisdom as a personified woman, a wife.

Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her,[a] and she will bring you honor. She will be your crowning glory.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:8 Embrace her; or Prize her highly.