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may the wise hear and increase learning,
    and the one who understands gain direction,[a]
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.

Lecture Against Gang Behavior

My child, may you keep[b] your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teachings,
for they are a garland of favor for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:5 Or “guidance”
  2. Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”

The wise hear them and grow in wisdom;
    those with understanding gain guidance.
They help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings,
    the words of the wise, and their puzzles.
Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Avoid evil associations

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction;
    don’t neglect your mother’s teaching;
        for they are a graceful wreath on your head,
        and beads for your neck.

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23 May you turn to my argument![a]
    Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;
    I will make my words known to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Or “turn at my reproach”

23 You should respond when I correct you.
    Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you.
    I’ll reveal my words to you.

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The Benefits of Wisdom

My child, if you will receive[a] my sayings,
    and hide my commands with you,
in order to incline your ear toward wisdom,
    then you shall apply your heart to understanding.
For if you cry out for understanding,[b]
    if you lift[c] your voice for insight,
if you seek her like silver
    and search her out like treasure,[d]
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 2:1 Or “take, seize”
  2. Proverbs 2:3 Or “call to understanding”
  3. Proverbs 2:3 Or “carry, give”
  4. Proverbs 2:4 Literally “like the treasures”

Benefits of wisdom

My son, accept my words
    and store up my commands.
Turn your ear toward wisdom,
    and stretch your mind toward understanding.
Call out for insight,
    and cry aloud for understanding.
Seek it like silver;
    search for it like hidden treasure.
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
    and discover the knowledge of God.
The Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

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Pride comes, then disgrace comes,
    but wisdom is with the humble.

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When pride comes, so does shame,
    but wisdom brings humility.

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15 The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes,
    but he who listens to advice is wise.

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15 Fools see their own way as right,
    but the wise listen to advice.

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13 A wise child hears the discipline of a father,
    but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.

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13 A wise son listens to[a] the discipline of his father,
    but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 Heb lacks listens to.

10 Only by insolence is strife set up,
    and wisdom is with those who take advice.

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10 The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
    those who take advice are wise.

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20 Walk with the wise and be wise,
    but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.

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20 Walk with wise people and become wise;
    befriend fools and get in trouble.

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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]
The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

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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 mocker searches for wisdom and gets none,
    but knowledge comes quickly to the intelligent.
Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t learn wise speech there.
By their wisdom the prudent understand their way,
    but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

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

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18 Stupidity is the lot of the naive,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but the hasty of spirit[a] exalts folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Or “breath”

29 Patience leads to abundant understanding,
    but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.

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33 In the heart[a] of him who has understanding, wisdom rests,
    but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Or “mind”

33 Wisdom resides in an understanding heart,
    but it’s not[a] known in fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 LXX; MT lacks not.