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Prologue

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand sayings of understanding,
to gain insightful instruction,[a]
    righteousness and justice and equity,
to give shrewdness[b] to the simple,
    knowledge and purpose[c] to the young,
may the wise hear and increase learning,
    and the one who understands gain direction,[d]
to understand a proverb and an expression,
    words of wisdom and their riddles.
Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
    wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:3 Literally “the instruction of insight”
  2. Proverbs 1:4 Or “cleverness,” or “prudence”
  3. Proverbs 1:4 Or “plan”
  4. Proverbs 1:5 Or “guidance”

The Beginning of Knowledge

The (A)proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,
To [a]perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
To give prudence to the (B)simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
(C)A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their (D)riddles.

(E)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:2 understand or discern
  2. Proverbs 1:5 acquire

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

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Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

25 These(A) also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

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