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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.

The Major Theme

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:7 Or instruction

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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22 “You naïve ones, how long will you love naiveté?
    And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing
        or fools hate knowledge?”

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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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32 Indeed, the waywardness[a] of the naïve will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:32 So MT; DSS 4QProva reads narrow-mindedness; lit. the pull of; LXX reads Because they would wrong the naïve, they will be murdered

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

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Understand prudence, you naïve people;
    and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones.

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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.

Folly’s Entrapment

13 The foolish woman is loud,
    undisciplined, and without knowledge.
14 She sits at the entrance of her house,
    on a seat high above the city.
15 She calls out to those passing by on the road,
    who are minding their own business,[a]
16 “Whoever is naïve, turn in here!”
    And to anyone lacking sense, she says,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
    and food eaten in secret is delicious.”
18 But he does not realize that the dead lurk there,
    and her invited guests wind up in the depths of Sheol.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:15 Or are going straight on their way
  2. Proverbs 9:18 I.e. the realm of the dead

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

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The wise person[a] accepts commands,
    but the chattering fool will be brought down.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:8 Lit. wise in heart

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

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18 Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar,
    and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

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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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23 Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy,
    so is wisdom to the discerning man.

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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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29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

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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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15 The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion,
    but wise is the man who listens to advice.
16 The anger of a fool becomes readily apparent,
    but the prudent person overlooks an insult.

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

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23 A prudent man keeps what he knows to himself,[a]
    but the hearts of fools shout forth their foolishness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 The Heb. lacks to himself

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

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16 Every sensible person acts from knowledge,
    but a fool demonstrates folly.

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