Proverbs 1:7
New Living Translation
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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 Living Translation
6 For the Lord grants 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 Living Translation
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
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 Living Translation
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child,[a] listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
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 Living Translation
Avoid Immoral Women
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
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 Living Translation
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
8 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
7 for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
8 My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]
17 “I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
I will fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30 I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 “And so, my children,[b] listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
2 She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
5 “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
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 Living Translation
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
11 Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
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 Living Translation
2 Pride leads to disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2
International Standard Version
2 When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it,
but humility is present with wisdom.
Proverbs 14:33
New Living Translation
33 Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
wisdom is not[a] found among fools.
Footnotes
- 14:33 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew lacks not.
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 Living Translation
33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;
humility precedes honor.
Proverbs 15:33
International Standard Version
33 The fear of the Lord teaches wisdom,
and humility precedes honor.
Proverbs 16:16
New Living Translation
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
and good judgment than 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 Living Translation
24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
but a fool’s eyes wander to 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
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
