Add parallel Print Page Options


So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];

Yes, if you cry out for insight,
And lift up your voice for understanding;

If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver
And search for her as you would hidden treasures;

Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]
And discover the knowledge of God.(A)

For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],

Read full chapter

(A)Make your ear attentive to wisdom;
Incline your heart to understanding.
For if you cry out for insight,
And [a]raise your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as (B)silver
And search for her as for (C)hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the (D)fear of the Lord,
And discover the knowledge of God.
For (E)the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a (F)shield to those who walk in integrity,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:3 Lit give


Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

Read full chapter

(A)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And (B)do not lean on your own understanding.

Read full chapter


A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none [for his ears are closed to wisdom],
But knowledge is easy for one who understands [because he is willing to learn].

Read full chapter

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy for one who has understanding.

Read full chapter

29 
He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control],
But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].(A)

Read full chapter

29 One who is (A)slow to anger has great understanding;
But one who is [a]quick-tempered exalts foolishness.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Lit short of spirit

33 
Wisdom rests [silently] in the heart of one who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of [shortsighted] fools is made known.(A)

Read full chapter

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But among fools it is made known.

Read full chapter

32 
He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself,
But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom].

Read full chapter

32 One who (A)neglects discipline (B)rejects himself,
But one who (C)listens to a rebuke acquires [a]understanding.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Lit heart

21 
The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].

Read full chapter

21 The (A)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [a]speech (B)increases [b]persuasiveness.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or learning

10 
A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit
Than a hundred lashes into a fool.(A)

Read full chapter

10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.

Read full chapter

27 
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).(A)

Read full chapter

27 One who (A)withholds his words [a]has knowledge,
And one who has a (B)cool spirit is a person of understanding.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows


A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].

Read full chapter

A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (A)in revealing his own [a]mind.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart


He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper.

Read full chapter

One who gets [a]wisdom loves his own soul;
One who keeps understanding will (A)find good.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:8 Lit heart


A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well,
But a man of understanding draws it out.(A)

Read full chapter

A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.

Read full chapter