Loading…

Proverbs 1:1–9

The Usefulness of Proverbs

1 The aproverbs of Solomon bthe son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know awisdom and instruction,

To discern the sayings of bunderstanding,

3 To areceive instruction in wise behavior,

bRighteousness, justice and equity;

4 To give aprudence to the 1naive,

To the youth bknowledge and discretion,

5 A wise man will hear and aincrease in learning,

And a bman of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and a figure,

The words of the wise and their ariddles.

7 aThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Enticement of Sinners

8 aHear, my son, your father’s instruction

And bdo not forsake your mother’s teaching;

9 Indeed, they are a agraceful wreath to your head

And 1bornaments about your neck.

Read more Explain verse



Proverbs 1:1–9 — The New International Version (NIV)

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to those who are simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

They are a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — English Standard Version (ESV)

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

for they are a graceful garland for your head

and pendants for your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction;

To perceive the words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom,

Justice, and judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;

And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation;

The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

And forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,

And chains about thy neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — New Living Translation (NLT)

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.

Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,

to help them understand the insights of the wise.

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,

to help them do what is right, just, and fair.

These proverbs will give insight to the simple,

knowledge and discernment to the young.

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.

Let those with understanding receive guidance

by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My child, listen when your father corrects you.

Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

What you learn from them will crown you with grace

and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,

To perceive the words of understanding,

To receive the instruction of wisdom,

Justice, judgment, and equity;

To give prudence to the simple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion—

A wise man will hear and increase learning,

And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

To understand a proverb and an enigma,

The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of your father,

And do not forsake the law of your mother;

For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,

And chains about your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — New Century Version (NCV)

These are the wise words of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.

They teach wisdom and self-control;

they will help you understand wise words.

They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled

and will teach you to do what is honest and fair and right.

They make the uneducated wise

and give knowledge and sense to the young.

Wise people can also listen and learn;

even they can find good advice in these words.

Then anyone can understand wise words and stories,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord,

but fools hate wisdom and discipline.

My child, listen to your father’s teaching

and do not forget your mother’s advice.

Their teaching will be like flowers in your hair

or a necklace around your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — American Standard Version (ASV)

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction;

To discern the words of understanding;

To receive instruction in wise dealing,

In righteousness and justice and equity;

To give prudence to the simple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion:

That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;

And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

To understand a proverb, and a figure,

The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge;

But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

And forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head,

And chains about thy neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, righteousness and judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. He that is wise will hear, and will increase learning; and the intelligent will gain wise counsels: to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother; for they shall be a garland of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⸤given⸥ 

to grasp wisdom and discipline, 

to understand deep thoughts, 

to acquire the discipline of wise behavior— 

righteousness and justice and fairness— 

to give insight to gullible people, 

to give knowledge and foresight to the young— 

a wise person will listen and continue to learn, 

and an understanding person will gain direction— 

to understand a proverb and a clever saying, 

the words of wise people and their riddles. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 

Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline. 

My son, 

listen to your father’s discipline, 

and do not neglect your mother’s teachings, 

because discipline and teachings 

are a graceful garland on your head 

and a ⸤golden⸥ chain around your neck. 

Proverbs 1:1–9 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

For learning what wisdom and discipline are;

for understanding insightful sayings;

for receiving wise instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,

knowledge and discretion to a young man—

a wise man will listen and increase his learning,

and a discerning man will obtain guidance—

for understanding a proverb or a parable,

the words of the wise, and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord

is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

for they will be a garland of grace on your head

and a gold chain around your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

For learning about wisdom and instruction,

for understanding words of insight,

for gaining instruction in wise dealing,

righteousness, justice, and equity;

to teach shrewdness to the simple,

knowledge and prudence to the young—

let the wise also hear and gain in learning,

and the discerning acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,

and do not reject your mother’s teaching;

for they are a fair garland for your head,

and pendants for your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand sayings of understanding,

to gain insightful instruction,

righteousness and justice and equity,

to give shrewdness to the simple,

knowledge and purpose to the young,

may the wise hear and increase learning,

and the one who understands gain direction,

to understand a proverb and an expression,

words of wisdom and their riddles.

Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;

wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

My child, may you keep your father’s instruction,

and do not reject your mother’s teachings,

for they are a garland of favor for your head,

and pendants for your neck.

Proverbs 1:1–9 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

These are the proverbs of Solomon. He was the son of David and the king of Israel.

Proverbs teach you wisdom and train you.

They help you understand wise sayings.

They provide you with training and help you live wisely.

They lead to what is right and honest and fair.

They give understanding to childish people.

They give knowledge and good sense to those who are young.

Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned.

Let those who understand what is right get guidance.

What I’m teaching also helps you understand proverbs and stories.

It helps you understand the sayings and riddles of those who are wise.

If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord.

But foolish people hate wisdom and training.

My son, listen to your father’s advice.

Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching.

What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head.

It will be like a chain to decorate your neck.


A service of Logos Bible Software