Logos Bible Study

Proverbs 1:1–8

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Purpose and Theme

1The proverbsa of Solomonb son of David, king of Israel:c

2for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

4for giving prudence to those who are simple,ad

knowledge and discretione to the young—

5let the wise listen and add to their learning,f

and let the discerning get guidance—

6for understanding proverbs and parables,g

the sayings and riddlesh of the wise.bi

7The fear of the Lordj is the beginning of knowledge,

but foolsc despise wisdomk and instruction.l

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

8Listen, my son,m to your father’sn instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.o

Read in Logos
Proverbs 1:7: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Footnotes

  1. aThe Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
  2. bOr understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. cThe Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

Cross references

  1. aMt 13:3
  2. b1 Ki 4:29–34
  3. cPr 10:1; 25:1; Ecc 1:1
  4. dPr 8:5
  5. ePr 8:12
  6. fPr 9:9
  7. gSee Ps 49:4; Mt 13:10–17
  8. hSee Nu 12:8; See Jdg 14:12
  9. iPr 22:17; 24:23
  10. jSee Ex 20:20; See Job 23:15; Ps 34:4–22; See 112:1; Pr 9:10; 15:33; Isa 33:6; 50:10; 59:19
  11. kSee Dt 4:6; Jer 8:9
  12. lPr 8:33–36; 9:7–9; 12:1; 13:18; 15:32
  13. mver 8–9; Pr 2:1; 3:1; 4:1; 5:1; 6:1; 7:1; 19:27; 22:17; 23:26–28
  14. nJer 35:8
  15. oSee Dt 21:18; Pr 6:20

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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,

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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

For learning wisdom and discipline;

for understanding insightful sayings;

for receiving prudent instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,

knowledge and discretion to a young man—

let a wise person listen and increase learning,

and let a discerning person 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,

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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,

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

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:

Public Domain