Proverbs 1:7
New American Standard Bible
7 (A)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
International Standard Version
The Major Theme
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:7 Or instruction
Proverbs 2:6
New American Standard Bible
6 For (A)the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6
International Standard Version
6 For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:13-20
New American Standard Bible
13 (A)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [a]her (B)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (C)more precious than [b]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [c](D)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (E)riches and honor.
17 Her (F)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (G)peace.
18 She is a (H)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth (I)by wisdom,
He (J)established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the (K)ocean depths were burst open,
And the (L)clouds drip with dew.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
- Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
- Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
Proverbs 3:13-20
International Standard Version
Wisdom More Valuable than Riches
13 How joyful is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gains understanding,
14 because her profit is better than the profit of silver,
and her yield than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand,
and in her left are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life for those who embrace her,
and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
and by understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 By his knowledge the depths broke open,
and the clouds drip with dew.
Proverbs 4:5-13
New American Standard Bible
5 (A)Acquire wisdom! (B)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
(C)Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 (D)The [a]beginning of wisdom is: (E)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
8 (F)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place (G)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Listen, my son, and (H)accept my sayings,
And the (I)years of your life will be many.
11 I have (J)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your (K)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you (L)will not stumble.
13 (M)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (N)life.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom
Proverbs 4:5-13
International Standard Version
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
6 Do not abandon her, and she will protect you.
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom,
and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
8 Prize her and she will exalt you.
Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will present to you a crown of beauty.”
10 Listen, my son: accept my words,
and you’ll live a long, long time.[a]
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom,
and I have led you along straight[b] paths.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hindered,
and when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go!
Guard wisdom,[c] because she is your life!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:10 Lit. and the years of your life will be many
- Proverbs 4:11 Or upright
- Proverbs 4:13 Lit. her
Proverbs 5:1-2
New American Standard Bible
Pitfalls of Immorality
5 My son, (A)pay attention to my wisdom,
(B)Incline your ear to my understanding,
2 So that you may (C)maintain discretion
And your (D)lips may comply with knowledge.
Proverbs 5:1-2
International Standard Version
Warning against Sexual Immorality
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
and listen closely to my insight,
2 so you may carefully practice[a] discretion
and your lips preserve knowledge.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:2 Lit. guard
Proverbs 8:1-9:6
New American Standard Bible
The Commendation of Wisdom
8 Does not (A)wisdom call,
And understanding [a]raise her voice?
2 On top of (B)the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the (C)gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 “To you, people, I call,
And my voice is to [b]mankind.
5 You (D)naive ones, understand prudence;
And, you (E)fools, understand [c]wisdom!
6 Listen, for I will speak (F)noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal (G)right things.
7 For my (H)mouth will proclaim truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing (I)crooked or perverted in them.
9 They are all (J)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who (K)find knowledge.
10 Accept my (L)instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is (M)better than [d]jewels;
And (N)all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, (O)dwell with prudence,
And I find (P)knowledge and discretion.
13 The (Q)fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(R)Pride, arrogance, (S)the evil way,
And the (T)perverted mouth, I hate.
14 (U)Advice is mine and (V)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (W)power is mine.
15 By me (X)kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 I (Y)love those who love me;
And (Z)those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 (AA)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring (AB)wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AC)better than gold, even pure gold;
And my yield better than (AD)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may (AE)fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord [e]created me (AF)at the beginning of His way,
Before His works [f]of old.
23 From eternity I was [g](AG)established,
From the beginning, (AH)from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no (AI)ocean depths, I was born,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 (AJ)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was born;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the [h]fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 When He (AK)established the heavens, I was there;
When (AL)He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became [i]fixed,
29 When (AM)He set a boundary for the sea
So that the water would not violate His [j]command,
When He marked out (AN)the foundations of the earth;
30 Then (AO)I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was His delight daily,
[k]Rejoicing always before Him,
31 [l]Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having (AP)my delight in the sons of mankind.
32 “Now then, sons, (AQ)listen to me,
For (AR)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (AS)Listen to instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 (AT)Blessed is the person who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35 For (AU)one who finds me finds life,
And (AV)obtains favor from the Lord.
36 But one who [m]sins against me (AW)injures himself;
All those who (AX)hate me (AY)love death.”
Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom has (AZ)built her house,
She has carved out her seven pillars;
2 She has [n](BA)prepared her food, she has (BB)mixed her wine;
She has also (BC)set her table;
3 She has (BD)sent out her attendants, she (BE)calls out
From the (BF)tops of the heights of the city:
4 “(BG)Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who (BH)lacks [o]understanding she says,
5 “Come, (BI)eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 [p]Abandon your foolishness and (BJ)live,
And (BK)proceed in the way of understanding.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:1 Lit give
- Proverbs 8:4 Lit sons of mankind
- Proverbs 8:5 Lit heart
- Proverbs 8:11 Lit corals
- Proverbs 8:22 Or possessed
- Proverbs 8:22 Lit from then
- Proverbs 8:23 Or consecrated
- Proverbs 8:26 Lit outside places
- Proverbs 8:28 Lit strong
- Proverbs 8:29 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 8:30 Or Playing
- Proverbs 8:31 Or Playing
- Proverbs 8:36 Or misses me
- Proverbs 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter
- Proverbs 9:4 Lit heart
- Proverbs 9:6 Or Abandon the naive
Proverbs 8:1-9:6
International Standard Version
Wisdom Calls for an Audience
8 Isn’t wisdom calling out;
isn’t understanding raising her voice?
2 On top of the highest places along the road
she stands where the roads meet.
3 Beside the gates, at the city entrance—
at the entrance to the portals she cries aloud:
4 “I’m calling to you, men!
What I have to say pertains[a] to all mankind!
5 Understand prudence, you naïve people;
and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones.
6 Listen, because I have noble things to say,
and what I have to say[b] will reveal what is right.
7 For my mouth speaks the truth—
wickedness is detestable to me.
8 Everything I have to say is just;
there isn’t anything corrupt or perverse in my speech.[c]
9 Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands,
and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.
10 Grab hold of my instruction in lieu of money
and knowledge instead of the finest gold,
11 because wisdom is better than precious gems[d]
and nothing you desire can compare to it.”
The Way of Wisdom
12 “I, wisdom, am related to[e] prudence.
I know how to be discreet.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle,
and perverted speech I despise.
14 Counsel belongs to me,
along with sound judgment.
I am understanding.
Power belongs to me.
15 Kings reign by me,
and rulers dispense justice through me.
16 By me leaders rule, as do noble officials
and all who govern justly.[f]
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me will find me.
18 Wealth and honor accompany me,
as do enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold,
better[g] than even refined gold,
and my benefit surpasses the purest silver.
20 I walk on the way of righteousness,
along paths that are just,
21 I bequeath wealth to those who love me,
and I will fill their treasuries.”
The Agelessness of Wisdom
22 “The Lord made me as he began his planning,[h]
before his ancient activity commenced.
23 From eternity I was appointed,
from the beginning,
from before there was land.
24 When there were no ocean depths,
I brought them[i] to birth
at a time when there were no springs.
25 Before the mountains were shaped,
before there were hills,
I was bringing them[j] to birth.
26 Even though he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the world’s first grains of dust,
27 when he crafted the heavens,
I was there—
when he marked out a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made the clouds from above,
when the springs of the depths were established,
29 when he set a boundary for the sea
so the waters would not exceed his limits,[k]
when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was with him, his master craftsman—
I was his delight[l] daily,
continuously rejoicing in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his inhabitable world
and taking delight in mankind.”
The Exhortation of Wisdom
32 “So listen to me, children!
Blessed are those who obey me.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Blessed is the person who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my doorways—
35 because those who find me find life
and gain favor from the Lord.
36 But whoever sins against me destroys himself;
everyone who hates me loves death.”
Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom[m] has built her house;
she has hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her food,[n]
she has spiced[o] her wine,
and she also has set her dining table.
3 She has sent out her young women,
while calling out from the heights of the city,
4 “Let whoever is naïve, turn in here.”
To anyone lacking sense, she says,
5 “Come! Eat my food,
and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6 Leave your naïve ways, and live.
Walk in the path of understanding.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:4 Lit. My voice is
- Proverbs 8:6 Lit. my open lips
- Proverbs 8:8 Lit. words
- Proverbs 8:11 Or rubies
- Proverbs 8:12 Lit. wisdom, live with
- Proverbs 8:16 So MT; LXX reads and tyrants rule the earth
- Proverbs 8:19 The Heb. lacks better
- Proverbs 8:22 Lit. ways
- Proverbs 8:24 The Heb. lacks them
- Proverbs 8:25 The Heb. lacks them
- Proverbs 8:29 Lit. command
- Proverbs 8:30 So LXX; MT reads was filled with delight
- Proverbs 9:1 I.e. wisdom personified as a woman
- Proverbs 9:2 Or meat
- Proverbs 9:2 Or mixed
Proverbs 9:10-12
New American Standard Bible
10 The (A)fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (B)by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise (C)for yourself,
And if you (D)scoff, you alone will [a]suffer from it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:12 Lit bear
Proverbs 9:10-12
International Standard Version
10 The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins,
and knowing holiness[a] demonstrates understanding.
11 For because of me you will live a long life,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise,
your wisdom will assist you.
If you mock,
you alone will be held responsible.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:10 Or knowing holy ones
Proverbs 11:2
New American Standard Bible
2 When (A)pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2
International Standard Version
2 When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it,
but humility is present with wisdom.
Proverbs 14:33
New American Standard Bible
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But among fools it is made known.
Proverbs 14:33
International Standard Version
33 Wisdom is at rest in the mind of the discerning—
even fools know this.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:33 So MT; LXX reads but in the heart of fools it is not discerned
Proverbs 15:33
New American Standard Bible
33 [a]The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:33 Or Reverence for
Proverbs 15:33
International Standard Version
33 The fear of the Lord teaches wisdom,
and humility precedes honor.
Proverbs 16:16
New American Standard Bible
16 How much (A)better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
Proverbs 16:16
International Standard Version
16 How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom,
the attainment of wisdom better than silver!
Proverbs 17:24
New American Standard Bible
24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the (A)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24
International Standard Version
24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
but a fool looks only[a] to earthly goals.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:24 The Heb. lacks only
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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