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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 give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the young man:
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
    that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
to understand a proverb and parables,
    the words and riddles of the wise.

The fear of Yahweh[a] is the beginning of knowledge;
    but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

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”

yes, if you call out for discernment,
    and lift up your voice for understanding;
if you seek her as silver,
    and search for her as for hidden treasures:
then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
    and find the knowledge of God.[a]
For Yahweh gives wisdom.
    Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:5 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

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 enter into your heart.
    Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will watch over you.
    Understanding will keep you,
12 to deliver you from the way of evil,
    from the men who speak perverse things,

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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 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.

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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 Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
    The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

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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 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

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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 his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
    but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.

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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 A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

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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, and doesn’t find it,
    but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.

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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 inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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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 commends knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

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

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