Add parallel Print Page Options

Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
    wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

22 How long,[a] O simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing,
    and fools hate knowledge?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:22 Literally “Until when”

22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(A) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(B)

Read full chapter

32 for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Read full chapter

32 For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them,(A)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Read full chapter

Learn prudence, O simple ones;
    fools, learn intelligence.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Literally “heart”

Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.

Read full chapter

13 A woman of foolishness is loud,
    simple, and does not know it.[a]
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    upon a throne at the high places of town,
15 in order to call to those who pass by the road,
    those who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, may he turn here!”
    As for he who lacks sense,[b] she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
    and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead[c] are there,
    in the depths of Sheol[d] are her guests.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:13 Literally “what”
  2. Proverbs 9:16 Literally “heart”
  3. Proverbs 9:18 Or “Rephaim”
  4. Proverbs 9:18 A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld

13 The woman Folly is rowdy;(A)
she is gullible and knows nothing.(B)
14 She sits by the doorway of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who go straight ahead on their paths:(C)
16 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten secretly is tasty!”(D)
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,(E)
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.(F)

Read full chapter

A heart of wisdom will heed commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Read full chapter

A wise heart accepts commands,(A)
but foolish lips will be destroyed.

Read full chapter

18 He who conceals hatred has lips of deceit,
    and he who utters slander—he is a fool.

Read full chapter

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.(A)

Read full chapter

23 It is like a sport for a fool to do wrong,
    wisdom for a person of understanding.

Read full chapter

23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,(A)
so wisdom is for a man of understanding.

Read full chapter

29 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[a]
    and a fool will serve the wise of heart.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:29 Or “breath, spirit”

29 The one who brings ruin on his household(A)
will inherit the wind,(B)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

Read full chapter

15 The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes,
    but he who listens to advice is wise.
16 As for a fool, on that very day[a] he makes his anger known,
    but he who ignores an insult is prudent.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:16 Literally “on the day”

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

16 A fool’s displeasure is known at once,
but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.(B)

Read full chapter

23 A clever person conceals knowledge,
    but the heart[a] of a fool[b] announces folly.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 12:23 Hebrew “fools”

23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge,
but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.(A)

Read full chapter

16 Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence,
    but the fool will display folly.

Read full chapter

16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.(A)

Read full chapter