to give prudence to (A)the simple,
    knowledge and (B)discretion to the youth—

Read full chapter

They make the naive mature,
    the young knowledgeable and discreet.

Read full chapter

21 My son, (A)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be (B)life for your soul
    and (C)adornment for your neck.
23 (D)Then you will walk on your way securely,
    (E)and your foot will not stumble.
24 (F)If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, (G)your sleep will be sweet.
25 (H)Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of (I)the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will (J)keep your foot from being caught.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:25 Hebrew storm

Integrity of wisdom

21 My son, don’t let them slip from your eyes;
    hold on to sound judgment and discretion.
22 They will be life for your whole being,
    and an ornament for your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely on your path,
    and your foot won’t stumble.
24 If you lie down, you won’t be terrified.
    When you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don’t fear sudden terror
    or the ruin that comes to the wicked.
26 The Lord will be your confidence;
    he will guard your feet from being snared.

Read full chapter

A Father's Wise Instruction

(A)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may (B)gain[a] insight,
for I give you good (C)precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    (D)tender, (E)the only one in the sight of my mother,
he (F)taught me and said to me,
(G)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    (H)keep my commandments, and live.
(I)Get wisdom; get (J)insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    (K)love her, and she will guard you.
(L)The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get (M)insight.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Hebrew know

Love wisdom

Hear, children, fatherly instruction;
    pay attention to gain understanding.
I’ll teach you well.
    Don’t abandon my instruction.
When I was a son to my father,
    tender and my mother’s favorite,
    he taught me and said to me:
“Let your heart hold on to my words:
    Keep my commands and live.
Get wisdom; get understanding.
    Don’t forget and don’t turn away from my words.
Don’t abandon her, and she will guard you.
    Love her, and she will protect you.
The beginning of wisdom:
Get wisdom!
    Get understanding before anything else.

Read full chapter

Warning Against Adultery

(A)My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
    (B)incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep (C)discretion,
    and your lips may (D)guard knowledge.

Read full chapter

Avoid the mysterious woman

My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
    Bend your ear to what I know,
        so you might remain discreet,
        and your lips might guard knowledge.

Read full chapter

The Way of Wisdom

(A)Wisdom has built her house;
    she has hewn her (B)seven (C)pillars.
She has (D)slaughtered her beasts; she has (E)mixed her wine;
    she has also (F)set her table.
She has (G)sent out her young women to (H)call
    from (I)the highest places in the town,
(J)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    (K)To him who lacks sense she says,
“Come, (L)eat of my bread
    and (M)drink of (N)the wine I have mixed.
Leave (O)your simple ways,[a] and (P)live,
    (Q)and walk in the way of insight.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:6 Or Leave the company of the simple

“Woman Wisdom’s” invitation

Wisdom built her house;
    she has carved out her seven pillars.
She slaughtered her animals,
    mixed her wine,
    and set her table.
She sends out her female servants; she issues an invitation
    from the top of the city heights:
“Whoever is naive turn aside here,”
    she says to those who lack sense.
“Come, eat my food,
    and drink the wine I have mixed.
Abandon your simplistic ways and live;
    walk in the way of understanding.”

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

10 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;
    the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.

Read full chapter

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Read full chapter

By their wisdom the prudent understand their way,
    but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

Read full chapter

15 (A)The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

Read full chapter

15 The naive believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.

Read full chapter

The plans of (A)the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is (B)hasty comes (C)only to poverty.

Read full chapter

The plans of the diligent end up in profit,
    but those who hurry end up with loss.

Read full chapter

(A)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.

Read full chapter

Prudent people see trouble and hide,
    while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.

Read full chapter

23 (A)Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Read full chapter

23 Buy truth and don’t sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Read full chapter

12 (A)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but (B)the simple go on and suffer for it.

Read full chapter

12 Prudent people see evil and hide;
    the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.

Read full chapter