Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

King James Version

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Holman Bible

Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.

International Standard Version

Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.

A Conservative Version

Wisdom [is] the principal thing. Get wisdom, yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

American Standard Version

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

Amplified


“The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]!
And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].

Bible in Basic English

The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.

Darby Translation

The beginning of wisdom is, Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence.

Julia Smith Translation

Wisdom the beginning; obtain wisdom, and with all thine acquisition, obtain understanding.

King James 2000

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.

Lexham Expanded Bible

The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all [that is in] your possession, gain insight.

Modern King James verseion

Wisdom is the main thing; get wisdom; and with all your getting get understanding.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

The chief point of wisdom is that thou be willing to obtain wisdom, and before all thy goods to get the understanding.

NET Bible

Wisdom is supreme -- so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!

New Heart English Bible

Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

The Emphasized Bible

The principal thing, is wisdom, acquire thou wisdom, With all thine acquisition, acquire thou understanding.

Webster

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

World English Bible

Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

Youngs Literal Translation

The first thing is wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
חכמה 
Chokmah 
Usage: 149

is the principal thing
ראשׁית 
Re'shiyth 
Usage: 51

חכמה 
Chokmah 
Usage: 149

and with all thy getting
קנין 
Qinyan 
substance, of...getting, goods, riches, with
Usage: 10

References

Hastings

Context Readings

The Father's Wisdom

6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.


Cross References

Matthew 13:44-46

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Philippians 3:8

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Psalm 49:16-20

Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;

Psalm 119:104

From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Proverbs 16:16

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

Proverbs 21:6

The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.

Proverbs 23:23

Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-9

I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;

Ecclesiastes 4:8

There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

Ecclesiastes 9:16-18

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.

Mark 8:36-37

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

Luke 10:42

but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Luke 12:20

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain