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

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  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.

Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Read full chapter

For the Lord gives wisdom;(A)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(B)

Read full chapter

The Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Read full chapter

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)

19 By wisdom(I) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(J)
    by understanding he set the heavens(K) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

Read full chapter

Value of wisdom

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who gain understanding.
14 Her profit is better than silver,
    and her gain better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls;
    all you desire can’t compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life;
    in her left are wealth and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant;
    all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    those who hold her tight are happy.
19 The Lord laid the foundations of the earth with wisdom,
    establishing the heavens with understanding.
20 With his knowledge, the watery depths burst open,
    and the skies drop dew.

Read full chapter

Get wisdom,(A) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(B)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(C)
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(D) you have,[b] get understanding.(E)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(F)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(G)

10 Listen, my son,(H) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(I)
11 I instruct(J) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(K)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(L)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(M)

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

Get wisdom; get understanding.
    Don’t forget and don’t turn away from my words.
Don’t abandon her, and she will guard you.
    Love her, and she will protect you.
The beginning of wisdom:
Get wisdom!
    Get understanding before anything else.
Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you.
    She will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place a graceful wreath on your head;
    she will give you a glorious crown.”

Stay on the path of wisdom

10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech,
    then the years of your life will be many.
11 I teach you the path of wisdom.
    I lead you in straight courses.
12 When you walk, you won’t be hindered;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t slack off;
    protect it, for it is your life.

Read full chapter

Warning Against Adultery

My son,(A) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words(B) of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.

Read full chapter

Avoid the mysterious woman

My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
    Bend your ear to what I know,
        so you might remain discreet,
        and your lips might guard knowledge.

Read full chapter

Wisdom’s Call

Does not wisdom call out?(A)
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:(B)
“To you, O people, I call out;(C)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true,(F)
    for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,(G)
11 for wisdom is more precious(H) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(I)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(J)
13 To fear the Lord(K) is to hate evil;(L)
    I hate(M) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(N)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(O) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(P)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(Q)
    and those who seek me find me.(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,(S)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(U)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(W)
    along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.(X)

22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
    before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;(Y)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(Z)
    before the hills, I was given birth,(AA)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.(AB)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(AC)
    when he marked out the horizon(AD) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(AE)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(AF)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(AG)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,(AH)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(AI)
30     Then I was constantly[e] at his side.(AJ)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.(AK)

32 “Now then, my children, listen(AL) to me;
    blessed are(AM) those who keep my ways.(AN)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(AO) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(AP) find life(AQ)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(AR)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(AS)
    all who hate me love death.”(AT)

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

Wisdom has built(AU) her house;
    she has set up[f] its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(AV)
    she has also set her table.(AW)
She has sent out her servants, and she calls(AX)
    from the highest point of the city,(AY)
    “Let all who are simple(AZ) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(BA) she says,
    “Come,(BB) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.(BC)
Leave your simple ways and you will live;(BD)
    walk in the way of insight.”(BE)

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
  2. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
  4. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
  5. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
  6. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out

Wisdom’s autobiography

Doesn’t Wisdom cry out
    and Understanding shout?
Atop the heights along the path,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand.
By the gate before the city,
    at the entrances she shouts:

I cry out to you, people;
    my voice goes out to all of humanity.
Understand skill, you who are naive.
    Take this to heart, you fools.
Listen, for I speak things that are correct;
    from my lips comes what is right.
My mouth utters the truth;
    my lips despise wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    nothing in them is twisted or crooked.
All of them are straightforward to those who understand,
    and upright for the knowledgeable.
10 Take my instruction rather than silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Wisdom is better than pearls;
    nothing is more delightful than she.

12 I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence;
    I have found knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
    I hate pride and arrogance,
        the path of evil and corrupt speech.
14 I have advice and ability,
    as well as understanding and strength.
15 By me kings rule,
    and princes issue righteous decrees.
16 By me rulers govern,
    and officials judge righteously.[a]
17 I love those who love me;
    those who seek me will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
    as well as enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold;
    my crops are better than choice silver.
20 I walk on the way of righteousness,
    on the paths of justice,
21     to provide for those who love me
        and to fill up their treasuries.

22 The Lord created me at the beginning of his way,
    before his deeds long in the past.
23 I was formed in ancient times,
    at the beginning, before the earth was.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth,
    when there were no springs flowing with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
    before the hills, I was brought forth;
26     before God[b] made the earth and the fields
    or the first of the dry land.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
    when he marked out the horizon on the deep sea,
28     when he thickened the clouds above,
    when he secured the fountains of the deep,
29     when he set a limit for the sea,
        so the water couldn’t go beyond his command,
    when he marked out the earth’s foundations.
30 I was beside him as a master of crafts.[c]
    I was having fun,
    smiling before him all the time,
31     frolicking with his inhabited earth
    and delighting in the human race.

32 Now children, listen to me:
    Happy are those who keep to my ways!
33 Listen to instruction, and be wise;
    don’t avoid it.
34 Happy are those who listen to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorposts.
35 Those who find me find life;
    they gain favor from the Lord.
36 Those who offend me injure themselves;
all those who hate me love death.

“Woman Wisdom’s” invitation

Wisdom built her house;
    she has carved out her seven pillars.
She slaughtered her animals,
    mixed her wine,
    and set her table.
She sends out her female servants; she issues an invitation
    from the top of the city heights:
“Whoever is naive turn aside here,”
    she says to those who lack sense.
“Come, eat my food,
    and drink the wine I have mixed.
Abandon your simplistic ways and live;
    walk in the way of understanding.”

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Heb uncertain
  2. Proverbs 8:26 Heb lacks God.
  3. Proverbs 8:30 Heb uncertain

10 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(B) is understanding.(C)
11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(D)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me

10 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;
    the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.
11 Through me your days will be many;
    years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, it is to your benefit;
    if you are cynical, you will bear it all alone.

Read full chapter

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(A)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(B)

Read full chapter

When pride comes, so does shame,
    but wisdom brings humility.

Read full chapter

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(A)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[a]

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known

33 Wisdom resides in an understanding heart,
    but it’s not[a] known in fools.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 14:33 LXX; MT lacks not.

33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(A)
    and humility comes before honor.(B)

Read full chapter

33 The fear of the Lord is wise instruction,
    and humility comes before respect.

Read full chapter

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight(A) rather than silver!(B)

Read full chapter

16 Acquiring wisdom is much better than gold,
    and acquiring understanding is better than silver.

Read full chapter

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

Read full chapter

24 Wisdom is right in front of those with understanding,
    but the eyes of fools are off to the edges of the earth.

Read full chapter