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in order to incline your ear toward wisdom,
    then you shall apply your heart to understanding.
For if you cry out for understanding,[a]
    if you lift[b] your voice for insight,
if you seek her like silver
    and search her out like treasure,[c]
then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
    and the knowledge of God you will find.
For Yahweh will give wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
For the upright, he stores[d] sound judgment, a shield for those who walk uprightly,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:3 Or “call to understanding”
  2. Proverbs 2:3 Or “carry, give”
  3. Proverbs 2:4 Literally “like the treasures”
  4. Proverbs 2:7 Or “hides, keeps”

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 Yahweh[a] with all your heart;
    do not lean toward your own understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:5 Literally “trust toward Yahweh”

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

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A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none,
    but knowledge comes easily to him who understands.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:6 Literally “to one who understands it comes easy”

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

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29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but the hasty of spirit[a] exalts folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:29 Or “breath”

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

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33 In the heart[a] of him who has understanding, wisdom rests,
    but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:33 Or “mind”

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 He who ignores instruction despises himself,[a]
    but he who hears admonition gains heart.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 15:32 Or “mind”

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

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21 The wise of heart[a] is called perceptive,
    but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Or “mind”

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

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10 A rebuke strikes him who understands
    deeper than one hundred blows to 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 He who spares his sayings knows knowledge,
    and a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

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

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A fool will not take pleasure in understanding,
    but in expressing his heart.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Or “mind”

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

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He who acquires wisdom loves himself;[a]
    he who guards understanding loves to find good.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:8 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

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

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Deep waters are like purpose in the heart[a] of a man,
    and a man of understanding will draw it[b] out.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:5 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 20:5 Or “her”; referring to “purpose”

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

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