PRO 1:7 Parallel View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on the version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context.

Key: yellow:verbs, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge,
 ⇔ fools despise wisdom and instruction.

UST Reverently fearing Yahweh is necessary for being knowledgeable.
⇔ But foolish people detest what is wise or instructive.

BSB  ⇔ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
⇔ but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

OEB Reverence for the Lord is the basis of knowledge,
⇔ but wisdom and discipline are scorned by fools.

WEB  ⇔ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge,
⇔ but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

WMB  ⇔ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
⇔ but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

NET Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge,
 ⇔ but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

LSV Fear of YHWH [is the] beginning of knowledge,
Fools have despised wisdom and instruction!

FBV Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.

T4T  ⇔ If you want to be wise, you must begin by revering Yahweh.
⇔ Only foolish people despise wisdom and good advice/discipline.

LEB • is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.
¶ 

BBE The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge: but the foolish have no use for wisdom and teaching.

MOF No MOF PRO book available

JPS The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.

ASV  ⇔ The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge;
 ⇔ But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

DRA The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

YLT Fear of Jehovah [is] a beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and instruction fools have despised!

DBY The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction.

RV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

WBS The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

KJB ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

BB The feare of the Lorde is the begynnyng of knowledge: but fooles dispise wisdome and instruction.
(The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisdome and instruction.)

GNV The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
(The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisdom and instruction.)

CB The feare of the LORDE is the begynnynge of wysdome. But fooles despyse wysdome and nurtoure.
(The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. But fooles despise wisdom and nurtoure.)

WYC The drede of the Lord is the bigynning of wisdom; foolis dispisen wisdom and teching.
(The drede of the Lord is the bigynning of wisdom; foolis dispisen wisdom and teaching.)

LUT Des HErrn Furcht ist Anfang zu lernen. Die Ruchlosen verachten Weisheit und Zucht.
(Des HErrn Furcht is beginning to lernen. The Ruchlosen verachten Weisheit and Zucht.)

CLV Timor Domini principium sapientiæ; sapientiam atque doctrinam stulti despiciunt.]

BRN The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

BrLXX Ἀρχὴ σοφίας φόβος Κυριου, σύνεσις δὲ ἀγαθὴ πᾶσι τοῖς ποιοῦσιν αὐτήν· εὐσέβεια δὲ εἰς Θεὸν ἀρχὴ αἰσθήσεως, σοφίαν δὲ καὶ παιδείαν ἀσεβεῖς ἐξουθενήσουσιν.
(Arⱪaʸ sofias fobos Kuriou, sunesis de agathaʸ pasi tois poiousin autaʸn; eusebeia de eis Theon arⱪaʸ aisthaʸseōs, sofian de kai paideian asebeis exouthenaʸsousin.)

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Fear of the Lord

As Moses is giving final instructions to the people of Israel prior to his death, he exhorts the people several times to “fear the Lord” (see, e.g., Deut 6:1-13; 10:12-21; 31:9-13). Joshua gives the same directive near the end of his life (Josh 24:14). Fear implies respect, awe, and at times, knee-knocking terror. Fear of the Lord encompasses a continual attentiveness to his sovereignty and power. For the Israelites to fear the Lord, it would mean an acknowledgment that everything needed for success comes from total dependence on God.

The main theme of Proverbs can be summed up in the ten words that appear near the beginning of the book: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” (Prov 1:7). The fear of the Lord leads people toward humility and away from pride (3:7; 15:33). With such an attitude, people are more apt to listen to God than to their own independent judgment. Fear of the Lord recognizes God’s central place in the order of the world. God is the Creator and Master of all things. This is why Psalm 14:1 labels those who reject God as “fools”. Those who fear the Lord receive wisdom because they begin to understand that everything is under God’s rule and in his service. This is more than just an attitude; it is a way of living that takes into account God’s power and authority and our ultimate accountability to him.

Wisdom is closely connected to a proper relationship with God—both require choices in line with God’s character (see Job 28:28; Prov 14:2; Eccl 12:13). Do you want wisdom? Then you must enter into a relationship with the one who has all wisdom (see 1 Cor 1:1–2:16; Col 2:3).

Passages for Further Study

Job 28:28; Pss 14:1; 111:10; Prov 1:7; 3:7; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:2, 26-27; 15:16, 33; 19:23; 22:4; Eccl 12:13; Isa 11:1-2; 33:6

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה

fear YHWH

Here, the author is using the possessive form to describe fear that a person should have for Yahweh. If this is not clear in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The fear for Yahweh”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת

beginning_of knowledge

Here, beginning refers to the basis of something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “is the prerequisite for acquiring knowledge” or “is what knowledge is based upon”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

יִרְאַ֣ת & דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝⁠מוּסָ֗ר

fear & knowledge wisdom and,instruction

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of fear, knowledge, wisdom, and instruction, you could express the same ideas in other ways. See how you translated knowledge in 1:4 and wisdom and instruction in 1:2. Alternate translation: “Being fearful of … knowing something … wise things and instructive things”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝⁠מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ

wisdom and,instruction fools despise

This clause is a strong contrast with the previous clause. Use the most natural way in your language to indicate a contrast. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence. Alternate translation: “By contrast, fools despise wisdom and instruction”

Parallel PRO 1:7