Let the wise hear and (A)increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
    (B)the words of the wise and their (C)riddles.

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

The Enticement of Sinners

(E)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
for they are (F)a graceful garland for your head
    and (G)pendants for your neck.

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Let the wise listen and increase their[a] learning;
    let the person of understanding receive guidance
in understanding proverbs, clever sayings,
    words of the wise, and their riddles.

The Major Theme

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.[b]

The Minor Theme

My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and do not let go of your mother’s teaching.
They will be a graceful wreath for your head
    and a chain for your neck.

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 1:5 The Heb. lacks their
  2. Proverbs 1:7 Or instruction

23 If you turn at my reproof,[a]
behold, I will (A)pour out my spirit to you;
    I will make my words known to you.

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?

23 Return to my correction!
    Look, I will pour out my spirit on you,
        and I will make my words known to you.

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The Value of Wisdom

(A)My son, (B)if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice (C)for understanding,
if you seek it like (D)silver
    and search for it as for (E)hidden treasures,
then (F)you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
For (G)the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

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The Benefits of Embracing Wisdom

My son, if you accept my words,
and treasure my instructions[a]
making your ear attentive to wisdom,
    and turning your heart to understanding—
if, indeed, you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it like hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and learn to know God.

For the Lord gives wisdom,
    and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 2:1 Lit. instructions within you

(A)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with (B)the humble is wisdom.

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When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it,
    but humility is present with wisdom.

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15 (A)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.

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15 The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion,
    but wise is the man who listens to advice.

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13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but (A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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Who is a Wise Son?

13 A wise son heeds[a] a father’s correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 13:1 The Heb. lacks heeds

10 (A)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.

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10 Arrogance only brings quarreling,
    but those receiving advice are wise.

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20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

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20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.

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(A)A scoffer seeks wisdom (B)in vain,
    but (C)knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.

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A mocker seeks wisdom and finds[a] none,
    but learning comes easily to someone who understands.

Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you will not find competent advice.

The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,
    but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 14:6 The Heb. lacks finds

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

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18 The naïve inherit folly,
    but the careful are crowned with knowledge.

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29 Whoever is (A)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

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29 Being slow to get angry compares to great understanding
    as being quick-tempered compares to stupidity.

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33 Wisdom (A)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[a]

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

33 Wisdom is at rest in the mind of the discerning—
    even fools know this.[a]

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 14:33 So MT; LXX reads but in the heart of fools it is not discerned