10 Heb “from the words of my mouth” (so , , ); , “what I say.” The verse uses repetition for the imperative “acquire” to underscore the importance of getting wisdom; it then uses two verb forms for the one prepositional phrase to stress the warning.
11 Heb “her”; the 3rd person feminine singular referent is personified “wisdom,” which has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 The absolute and construct state of רֵאשִׁית (re’shit) are identical ( 912 ). Some treat רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה (re’shit khokhmah) as a genitive-construct phrase: “the beginning of wisdom” (cf. , , ). Others take רֵאשִׁית as an absolute functioning as predicate and חָכְמָה as the subject: “wisdom is the first/chief thing” (cf. , ). The context here suggests the predicate.
13 The term “so” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness and style.
14 The noun קִנְיָן (qinyan) means “thing got or acquired; acquisition” ( 889 ). With the preposition that denotes price, it means “with (or at the price of) all that you have acquired.” The point is that no price is too high for wisdom—give everything for it (K&D 16:108).
15 The verse is not in the ; some textual critics delete the verse as an impossible gloss that interrupts vv. 6 and 8 (e.g., C. H. Toy, Proverbs [], ).
16 The verb is the Pilpel imperative from סָלַל (salal, “to lift up; to cast up”). So the imperative means “exalt her; esteem her highly; prize her.”
17 The personification of wisdom continues with the bestowal of a wreath for the head (e.g., 1:9). The point is that grace will be given to the individual like a wreath about the head.
18 The verb מָגַן (magan) is a Piel (denominative) verb from the noun “shield.” Here it means “to bestow” ( 171 ).
19 This verse uses wedding imagery: The wife (wisdom) who is embraced by her husband (the disciple) will place the wedding crown on the head of her new bridegroom. Wisdom, like a virtuous wife, will crown the individual with honor and grace.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom; get insight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;

love her, and she will guard you.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,

and whatever you get, get insight.

Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

She will place on your head a graceful garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then he taught me, and he said to me,

“Take hold of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands, and you will live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

he taught me and said,

“Your heart must hold on to my words.

Keep my commands and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;

don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.

Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;

love her, and she will guard you.

Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.

And whatever else you get, get understanding.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you.

She will place a garland of favor on your head;

she will give you a crown of beauty.”

NLTNew Living Translation

My father taught me,

“Take my words to heart.

Follow my commands, and you will live.

Get wisdom; develop good judgment.

Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.

Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.

Love her, and she will guard you.

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!

And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.

Embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will place a lovely wreath on your head;

she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

he taught me and said to me,

“May your heart hold fast to my words;

guard my commandments and live.

Get wisdom and insight;

do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;

love her and she will keep you.

The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!

With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

Cherish her and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

She will give a garland for your head;

she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

KJV 1900King James Version

He taught me also, and said unto me,

Let thine heart retain my words:

Keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding:

Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:

Love her, and she shall keep thee.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

And with all thy getting get understanding.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:

She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:

A crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Public Domain