Proverbs 1:4
Expanded Bible
4 They make the ·uneducated [simpleminded; immature; naive] ·wise [prudent]
and give knowledge and ·sense [discretion] to the young.
Proverbs 1:4
Amplified Bible
4
That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled],
And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,
Proverbs 3:21-26
Expanded Bible
21 My ·child [L son], ·hold on to [protect] ·wisdom [resourcefulness] and ·good sense [discretion].
Don’t let them ·out of your sight [L slip from your eyes].
22 They will give you life
and ·beauty like a necklace [L an ornament] around your neck.
23 Then you will ·go your way [walk on your path; C of life] in safety,
and ·you will not get hurt [L your foot will not stumble].
24 When you lie down, you won’t be afraid;
when you lie down, you will sleep in peace.
25 You won’t be afraid of sudden ·trouble [terror];
you won’t fear the ruin that comes to the wicked,
26 because the Lord will ·keep you safe [be your confidence].
He will ·keep you from being trapped [guard your feet from capture].
Proverbs 3:21-26
Amplified Bible
21
My son, let them not escape from your sight,
But keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22
And they will be life to your soul (your inner self)
And a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self).
23
Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely
And your foot will not stumble.(A)
24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];
26
For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong,
And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].
Proverbs 4:1-7
Expanded Bible
Wisdom Is Important
4 My ·children [L sons], listen to your father’s ·teaching [discipline; instruction];
pay attention ·so you will understand [L to the knowledge of understanding].
2 ·What I am telling you is good [L I will give you good teaching],
so do not ·forget [L abandon; forsake] ·what I teach you [L my instruction].
3 When I was a ·young boy in my father’s house [L son to my father]
·and like an only child to [L tender, and the only one of] my mother,
4 my father taught me and said,
“Hold on to my words with all your heart.
·Keep [Guard] my commands and you will live.
5 ·Get [Acquire] wisdom and ·get [acquire] understanding.
Don’t forget or ·ignore [turn away from] ·my words [L the speeches of my mouth].
6 ·Hold on to wisdom [L Don’t abandon her; C Wisdom is here personified as a woman; 1:20–33; 8:1—9:6], and it [or she] will ·take care of [guard] you.
Love ·it [or her], and ·it [or she] will ·keep you safe [protect you].
7 ·Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom [L The beginning of wisdom is: Get/Acquire wisdom].
·If it costs everything you have [L Above all your acquisitions], ·get [acquire] understanding.
Proverbs 4:1-7
Amplified Bible
A Father’s Instruction
4 Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,
And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.
2
For I give you good doctrine;
Do not [a]turn away from my instruction.
3
When I was a son with my father (David),
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),
4
He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live.(A)
5
“Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6
“Do not [b]turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7
“The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]!
And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].(B)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:2 Lit forsake.
- Proverbs 4:6 Lit forsake.
Proverbs 5:1-2
Expanded Bible
Warning About Adultery
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
·listen [L bend your ear] to my words of understanding.
2 ·Be careful to use good sense [or So you might keep discrete]
and ·watch what you say [L your lips might protect knowledge].
Proverbs 5:1-2
Amplified Bible
Pitfalls of Immorality
5 My son, be attentive to my wisdom [godly wisdom learned by costly experience],
Incline your ear to my understanding;(A)
2
That you may exercise discrimination and discretion (good judgment),
And your lips may reserve knowledge and answer wisely [to temptation].
Proverbs 9:1-6
Expanded Bible
Being Wise or Foolish
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has made its seven ·columns [pillars; C a large house].
2 She has ·prepared her food [L slaughtered her slaughter] and prepared [mixed] her wine;
she has set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls,
and she calls out from the highest place in the city [C the location of the Temple, indicating she symbolizes God].
4 She says to those who are ·uneducated [naive; immature; simpleminded],
“·Come in [Turn aside] here, you ·foolish people [who lack sense]!
5 Come and eat my food
and drink the wine I have ·prepared [mixed].
6 Stop your ·foolish [naive; immature; simpleminded] ways, and you will live;
take the road of understanding.
Proverbs 9:1-6
Amplified Bible
Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom has built her [spacious and sufficient] house;
She has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.
2
She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table.(A)
3
She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the highest places of the city:
4
“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says,
5
“Come, eat my food
And drink the wine I have mixed [and accept my gifts].(B)
6
“Leave [behind] your foolishness [and the foolish] and live,
And walk in the way of insight and understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10
Expanded Bible
10 “Wisdom begins with ·respect [fear; awe] for the Lord,
and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.
Proverbs 9:10
Amplified Bible
10
The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence],
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.
Proverbs 14:8
Expanded Bible
8 The wisdom of a ·wise [prudent] person will understand ·what to do [L his path],
but the folly of a foolish person is ·dishonest [deceptive].
Proverbs 14:8
Amplified Bible
8
The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of [shortsighted] fools is deceit.
Proverbs 14:15
Expanded Bible
15 ·Fools [The naive] will believe anything,
but the ·wise [prudent] ·think about what they do [understand their steps].
Proverbs 14:15
Amplified Bible
15
The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears,
But the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going.
Proverbs 21:5
Expanded Bible
5 The plans of hard-working people earn a profit,
but those who ·act too quickly [hurry] become poor.
Proverbs 21:5
Amplified Bible
5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.
Proverbs 22:3
Expanded Bible
3 The ·wise [prudent] see ·danger [evil; trouble] ahead and avoid it,
but fools ·keep going [go straight to it] and ·get into trouble [or are punished].
Proverbs 22:3
Amplified Bible
3
A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it],
But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
Proverbs 23:23
Expanded Bible
23 ·Learn [L Buy; Acquire] the truth and never ·reject [L sell] it.
·Get [Buy; Acquire] wisdom, ·self-control [instruction; discipline], and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23
Amplified Bible
23
[a]Buy truth, and do not sell it;
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:23 The ancient rabbis routinely assumed “truth” to refer to the Torah (Law), and they interpreted the first part of this command to mean that a student should pay a teacher to teach him the Torah if he can find no one to teach him for free. As for the second part, they said that if the student had to pay to learn, he should not view this as grounds to charge for teaching others, but should teach the Torah for free.
Proverbs 27:12
Expanded Bible
12 The ·wise [prudent] see ·danger [evil; trouble] ahead and avoid it,
but fools ·keep going [go straight to it] and ·get into trouble [or are punished].
Proverbs 27:12
Amplified Bible
12
A prudent man sees evil and hides himself and avoids it,
But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].(A)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
