Prologue to Proverbs
1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2For learning wisdom and discipline; For understanding words of discernment;
3For acquiring the discipline for success, Righteousness, justice, and equity;
4For endowing the simple with shrewdness, The young with knowledge and foresight.
5—The wise man, hearing them, will gain more wisdom;
The discerning man will learn to be adroit;
6For understanding proverb and epigram,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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Credits
Reprinted from Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures by permission of the University of Nebraska Press. Copyright 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 1.
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Engage with this Source
Related Guide
Writings: The Third Section of the Jewish Bible
10th–2nd Century BCE
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In Praise of Wisdom
Proverbs 3:13–20
Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
The man who attains understanding.
Her value in trade is better than silver,
Her yield, greater than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
All of your goods…
Wisdom’s Self-Praise
Proverbs 8:1–36
It is Wisdom calling,
Understanding raising her voice.
She takes her stand at the topmost heights,
By the wayside, at the crossroads,
Near the gates at the city entrance;
At the entryways, she…
Where Can Wisdom be Found?
Job 28
There is a mine for silver,
And a place where gold is refined.
Iron is taken out of the earth,
And copper smelted from rock.
He sets bounds for darkness;
To every limit man probes,
To rocks in…
Don’t Join a Gang
Proverbs 1:8–19
My son, heed the discipline of your father,
And do not forsake the instruction of your mother;
For they are a graceful wreath upon your head,
A necklace about your throat.
My son, if sinners…
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My son, if you accept my words
And treasure up my commandments;
If you make your ear attentive to wisdom
And your mind open to discernment;
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My son, do not forget my teaching
But let your mind retain my commandments;
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