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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”

a wise man will listen and increase his learning,(A)
and a discerning man will obtain guidance—
for understanding a proverb or a parable,[a]
the words of the wise, and their riddles.(B)

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

Avoid the Path of the Violent

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,(E)
for they will be a garland(F) of grace on your head
and a gold chain around your neck.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:6 Or an enigma

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 If you respond to my warning,[a](A)
then I will pour out my spirit on you(B)
and teach you my words.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Lit back to my reprimand

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”

Wisdom’s Worth

My son, if you accept my words(A)
and store up my commands within you,
listening closely[a] to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;
furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,(B)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:2 Lit you, stretching out your ear

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

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When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.(A)

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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 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,(A)
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

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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 responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

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

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10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(A)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

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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 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

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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 seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(A)

The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his 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 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible 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 A patient person shows great understanding,(A)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

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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 the heart of the discerning;(A)
she is known[a] even among fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 LXX reads unknown