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to give shrewdness[a] to the simple,
    knowledge and purpose[b] to the young,
may the wise hear and increase learning,
    and the one who understands gain direction,[c]
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 1:4 Or “cleverness,” or “prudence”
  2. Proverbs 1:4 Or “plan”
  3. Proverbs 1:5 Or “guidance”

to teach shrewdness to the simple,
    knowledge and prudence to the young—(A)
let the wise, too, hear and gain in learning
    and the discerning acquire skill,(B)
to understand a proverb and a figure,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.(C)

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For if you cry out for understanding,[a]
    if you lift[b] your voice for insight,
if you seek her like silver
    and search her out like treasure,[c]
then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
    and the knowledge of God you will find.
For Yahweh will give wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:3 Or “call to understanding”
  2. Proverbs 2:3 Or “carry, give”
  3. Proverbs 2:4 Literally “like the treasures”

if you indeed cry out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures—(A)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(B)
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;(C)

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10 for wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul.[a]
11 Discretion will watch over you;
    understanding will protect you,
12 in order to deliver you from the way of evil,[b]
    from a man who speaks devious things—

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:10 Or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 2:12 Or “evildoer”

10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 prudence will watch over you,
    and understanding will guard you.
12 It will save you from the way of evil,
    from those who speak perversely,

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All of them are straight to him who understands,
    and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my teaching and not silver;
    may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all desires shall not compare with her.
12 I, wisdom, live with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and discretion.

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They are all straight to one who understands
    and right to those who find knowledge.(A)
10 Take my instruction instead of silver
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,(B)
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.(C)
12 I, wisdom, live with prudence,
    and I attain knowledge and discretion.(D)

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Foolishness’ Banquet

10 The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,
    and knowledge of the Holy One,[a] insight.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:10 Or “holy ones”

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

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14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge,
    but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

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14 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

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With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

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23 A clever person conceals knowledge,
    but the heart[a] of a fool[b] announces folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 12:23 Hebrew “fools”

23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[a] broadcasts folly.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools

A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none,
    but knowledge comes easily to him who understands.[a]
Leave the presence of a foolish man,[b]
    for you will not come to know words of knowledge.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:6 Literally “to one who understands it comes easy”
  2. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “from the presence belonging to a man of foolishness”
  3. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “lips of knowledge”

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not find words of knowledge.

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18 The simple are adorned with folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.

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18 The simple are adorned with[a] folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14.18 Or inherit

The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.

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The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.(A)

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14 The heart of him who understands will seek knowledge,
    but the faces of fools, they[a] will feed on folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:14 Hebrew “he/it”

14 The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

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