for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,[a](A)
knowledge and discretion(B) to a young man—
let a wise person listen and increase learning,(C)
and let a discerning person obtain guidance—
for understanding a proverb or a parable,[b]
the words of the wise, and their riddles.(D)

The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;(E)
fools despise wisdom and discipline.(F)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1:4 Or simple, or gullible
  2. 1:6 Or an enigma

for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](A)
    knowledge and discretion(B) to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,(C)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(D)
    the sayings and riddles(E) of the wise.[b](F)

The fear of the Lord(G) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[c] despise wisdom(H) and instruction.(I)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,(A)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(B)

Read full chapter

indeed, if you call out for insight(A)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(B)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(C)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(D)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(E)

Read full chapter

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will delight you.
11 Discretion will watch over you,
and understanding will guard you.(A)
12 It will rescue you from the way of evil—
from anyone who says perverse things,

Read full chapter

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,(A)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.(B)

12 Wisdom will save(C) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,

Read full chapter

All of them are clear to the perceptive,(A)
and right to those who discover knowledge.
10 Accept my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.(B)
11 For wisdom is better than jewels,(C)
and nothing desirable can equal it.(D)
12 I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.(E)

Read full chapter

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,(A)
11 for wisdom is more precious(B) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(D)

Read full chapter

10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,(A)
and the knowledge of the Holy One(B) is understanding.

Read full chapter

10 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(B) is understanding.(C)

Read full chapter

14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.(A)

Read full chapter

14 The wise store up knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(B)

Read full chapter

With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

Read full chapter

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

Read full chapter

23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge,
but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.(A)

Read full chapter

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(A)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(B)

Read full chapter

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(A)

Read full chapter

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(A)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

Read full chapter

18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

Read full chapter

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Read full chapter

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.(A)

Read full chapter

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(B)

Read full chapter

14 A discerning mind seeks knowledge,(A)
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.(B)

Read full chapter

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Read full chapter