listening closely[a] to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;
furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,(A)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.(B)
He stores up success[b] for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:2 Lit you, stretching out your ear
  2. Proverbs 2:7 Or resourcefulness

Tune your ears to wisdom,
    and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
    and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
    seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
    and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
    He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart,(A)
and do not rely on your own understanding;(B)

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.

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A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

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A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,
    but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.

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29 A patient person shows great understanding,(A)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

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29 People with understanding control their anger;
    a hot temper shows great foolishness.

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33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;(A)
she is known[a] even among fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 LXX reads unknown

33 Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
    wisdom is not[a] found among fools.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:33 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew lacks not.

32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,(A)
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Lit acquires a heart

32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
    but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

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21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[a] increases learning.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips

21 The wise are known for their understanding,
    and pleasant words are persuasive.

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10 A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person
more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

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10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding
    than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

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27 The intelligent person restrains his words,(A)
and one who keeps a cool head[a]
is a man of understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit spirit

27 A truly wise person uses few words;
    a person with understanding is even-tempered.

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A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

Fools have no interest in understanding;
    they only want to air their own opinions.

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The one who acquires good sense[a] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:8 Lit acquires a heart

To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;
    people who cherish understanding will prosper.

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Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;(A)
but a man of understanding draws it out.

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Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
    a person with understanding will draw it out.

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