To have knowledge of wise teaching; to be clear about the words of reason:

That the very babes might have wit, and that young men might have knowledge and understanding.

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

Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

'Till when, ye simple, do ye love simplicity? And have scorners their scorning desired? And do fools hate knowledge?

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Because that they have hated knowledge, And the fear of Jehovah have not chosen.

They have not consented to my counsel, They have despised all my reproof,

But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and have enough without any fear of evil."

He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes care of those who have the fear of him.

Then you will have knowledge of righteousness and right acting, and upright behaviour, even of every good way.

Who take pleasure in wrongdoing, and have joy in the evil designs of the sinner;

For the upright will be living in the land, and the good will have it for their heritage.

So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.

In all thy ways have respect unto him, and he shall order thy goings.

She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.

By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.

When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.

Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:

Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.

The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.

Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:

For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.

For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother.

And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:

“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].

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.

The way of the wicked is as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.

And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.

The path of life -- lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths -- thou knowest not.

And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

As a little thing I have been all evil, In the midst of an assembly and a company.

Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.

My son, why wilt thou have pleasure in a harlot, and embrace the bosom of another woman?

For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord,
And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].

My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor,
If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],

you have been trapped by the words of your lips—
ensnared by the words of your mouth.

Do this now, my son, and release yourself [from the obligation];
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor [to pay his debt and release you].

My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother:

Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck.

In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you.

Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:

But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house.

For bitter is the wrath of an angry husband; in the day of punishment he will have no mercy.

Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes;

For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out,

I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I have to say.

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

"I'm calling to you, men! What I have to say pertains to all mankind!

Listen, because I have noble things to say, and what I have to say will reveal what is right.

Everything I have to say is just; there isn't anything corrupt or perverse in my speech.

Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands, and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.

I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge and discretion.

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a froward mouth, I have hated.

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.

Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.

Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

I have been ordained from everlasting, and from the beginning before the earth was made.

And whoso is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!

Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.

Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it.

The memorial of the just shall have a good report; but the name of the ungodly shall stink.

The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.

Engaging in evil is like sport to the fool [who refuses wisdom and chases sin],
But to a man of understanding [skillful and godly] wisdom brings joy.

The thing that the ungodly are afraid of, shall come upon them; but the righteous shall have their desire.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

The hope of the upright man will give joy, but the waiting of the evil-doer will have its end in sorrow.

The upright man will never be moved, but evil-doers will not have a safe resting-place in the land.

The lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is pleasing, but twisted are the mouths of evil-doers.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

When the just are in wealth, the city prospereth; but when the ungodly have the rule, it decayeth.

When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.

The one who puts up security for a stranger will surely have trouble, but whoever avoids shaking hands will be secure.

The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].

He that is liberal in giving, shall have plenty; and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself.

He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.

He that trusteth in his riches shall have a fall; but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.

Better to be dishonored, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his cattle; but the ungodly have cruel hearts.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.

The wicked desire what evil men have,
but the root of the righteous produces fruit.

From the fruit of his mouth will a man have good food in full measure, and the work of a man's hands will be rewarded.

Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.