The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[a] despise wisdom(B) and instruction.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

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

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22 “How long will you who are simple(A) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(B) knowledge?

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

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32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(A)

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

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You who are simple,(A) gain prudence;(B)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds

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

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13 Folly is an unruly woman;(A)
    she is simple and knows nothing.(B)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,(C)
15 calling out(D) to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
16     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(E) she says,
17     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!(F)
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(G)

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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)

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The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(A)

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

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18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips(A)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

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

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23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(A)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

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

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29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(A)

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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.

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15 The way of fools seems right to them,(A)
    but the wise listen to advice.(B)

16 Fools(C) show their annoyance at once,(D)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(E)

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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)

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23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(A)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(B)

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

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16 All who are prudent act with[a] knowledge,
    but fools expose(A) their folly.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through

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

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