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parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA PSA AMOS HOS 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH PRO ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL JOB YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC GAL 1TH 2TH 1COR 2COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1TIM TIT 1PET 2PET 2TIM HEB YUD 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN REV
Pro Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31
Pro 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET-LV The_fear of_YHWH [is_the]_beginning of_knowledge wisdom and_instruction fools they_despise.
UHB יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃פ ‡
(yirʼat yhwh rēʼshit dāˊat ḩākəmāh ūmūşār ʼₑvīlim bāzū.◊)
Key: khaki: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).
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. )
BrTr The fear of the Lord is the [fn]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.
1:7 Or, sum, or, top.
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 [fn] despise wisdom and discipline.
1:7 The Hebrew words rendered as fool in Proverbs denote one who is morally deficient.
OEB Reverence for the Lord is the basis of knowledge,
⇔ but wisdom and discipline are scorned by fools.
WEBBE ⇔ The fear of the LORD[fn] is the beginning of knowledge,
⇔ but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
1:7 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
WMBB ⇔ The fear of the LORD[fn] is the beginning of knowledge,
⇔ but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
1:7 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
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.
Moff No Moff 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!
Drby 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.
Wbstr The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
KJB-1769 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.[fn]
1.7 the beginning: or, the principal part
KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]The feare of the LORD is [fn]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.)
Bshps 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 wisdom and instruction.)
Gnva 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. )
Cvdl 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 dread of the Lord is the bigynning of wisdom; foolis dispisen wisdom and teaching.)
Luth Des HErr’s Furcht ist Anfang zu lernen. Die Ruchlosen verachten Weisheit und Zucht.
(Des LORD’s Furcht is beginning to lernen. The Ruchlosen verachten Weisheit and Zucht.)
ClVg Timor Domini principium sapientiæ; sapientiam atque doctrinam stulti despiciunt.][fn]
(Timor Master principium sapientiæ; wisdom atque doctrinam stulti despiciunt.] )
1.7 Timor Domini. ID. Duo sunt timores Domini, etc., usque ad Uterque in futuro cessabit, charitas nunquam excidet.
1.7 Timor Master. ID. Duo are timores Master, etc., until to Uterque in futuro cessabit, charitas nunquam excidet.
1:7 Fear of the Lord recognizes total dependence on God for everything, including knowledge and wisdom (9:10). It is not just a mental attitude but involves service, love, and obeying God’s laws (see Deut 10:12-13). Fear of the Lord is the basis of all knowledge. How can we understand life without knowing the most fundamental truth about it—that it is God’s creation?
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
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 יְ֭הוָה
fear YHWH
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of fear, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “Being deeply respectful of Yahweh” or “Revering Yahweh”
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת
beginning_of knowledge
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of knowledge, you could express the same idea in another way. See how you translated knowledge in 1:4. Alternate translation: “is what enables you to know what is true” or “allows you to think wisely”
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ
wisdom and,instruction fools despise
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of wisdom and instruction, you could express the same ideas in other ways. See how you translated wisdom and instruction in 1:2. Alternate translation: “But fools do not care about being wise or learning from others”
Note 6 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”