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

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The fear of Yahweh[a] is the beginning of knowledge;
    but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:22 Literally “Until when”

22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
    and fools hate knowledge?

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

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32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
    The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Literally “heart”

You simple, understand prudence!
    You fools, be of an understanding heart!

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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.

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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 foolish woman is loud,
    undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
    as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
    Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.

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

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The wise in heart accept commandments,
    but a chattering fool will fall.

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

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18 He who hides hatred has lying lips.
    He who utters a slander is a fool.

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

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23 It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness,
    but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.

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

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Footnotes

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

29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
    The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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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.

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Footnotes

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

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but he who is wise listens to counsel.
16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day,
    but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

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

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Footnotes

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

23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

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

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16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge,
    but a fool exposes folly.

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