When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

But then Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers—the magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same thing by their occult practices.

The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice.

what was declared by wise men
and was not suppressed by their ancestors,

Hear my words, you wise men,
and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

Reasonable men will say to me,
along with the wise men who hear me,

For one can see that wise men die;
foolish and stupid men also pass away.
Then they leave their wealth to others.

Where then are your wise men?
Let them tell you and reveal
what the Lord of Hosts has planned against Egypt.

therefore I will again confound these people
with wonder after wonder.
The wisdom of their wise men will vanish,
and the understanding of the perceptive will be hidden.

The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad
were your rowers.
Your wise men were within you, Tyre;
they were your captains.

The elders of Gebal and its wise men
were within you, repairing your leaks.

All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came to you to barter for your goods.

Because of this, the king became violently angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

The decree was issued that the wise men were to be executed, and they searched for Daniel and his friends, to execute them.

Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.

urging them to ask the God of heaven for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men.

Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had assigned to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He came and said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”

Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.

So I issued a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon to me in order that they might make the dream’s interpretation known to me.

This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can make the interpretation known to me. But you can, because you have the spirit of the holy gods.”

The king called out to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom.”

So all the king’s wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make its interpretation known to him.

Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation.

For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man, since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies just like the fool?

Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.

When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.

I observed all the work of God and concluded that man is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if the wise man claims to know it, he is unable to discover it.

a wise man will listen and increase his learning,
and a discerning man will obtain guidance—

Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Can a man be of any use to God?
Can even a wise man be of use to Him?

Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

A wise man’s instruction is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.

A wise man is cautious and turns from evil,
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.

A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it.

If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.

A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man holds it in check.

The wise man has eyes in his head,
but the fool walks in darkness.

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both.

And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

What advantage then does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?

Wisdom makes the wise man stronger
than ten rulers of a city.

A wise man’s heart goes to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.

The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious,
but the lips of a fool consume him.

In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs.

Does a wise man answer with empty counsel
or fill himself with the hot east wind?

But come back and try again, all of you.
I will not find a wise man among you.

Daniel answered the king: “No wise man, medium, diviner-priest, or astrologer is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about.

So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”

“So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.

Appoint for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will make them your leaders.

“So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and set them over you as leaders: officials for thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and officers for your tribes.

But He also is wise and brings disaster.
He does not go back on what He says;
He will rise up against the house of wicked men
and against the allies of evildoers.

Therefore, men fear Him.
He does not look favorably on any who are wise in heart.

If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;
if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”

The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,
but a foolish man consumes them.

A wise warrior is better than a strong one,
and a man of knowledge than one of strength;

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.

Who is the man wise enough to understand this? Who has the Lord spoken to, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a wilderness, so no one can pass through?

The princes of Zoan are complete fools;
Pharaoh’s wisest advisers give stupid advice!
How can you say to Pharaoh,
“I am one of the wise,
a student of eastern kings”?

Pay attention, you stupid people!
Fools, when will you be wise?

Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things
and consider the Lord’s acts of faithful love.

for receiving wise instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

for understanding a proverb or a parable,
the words of the wise, and their riddles.

Hiram also said:

May the Lord God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth, be praised! He gave King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.

Don’t consider yourself to be wise;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

The wise will inherit honor,
but He holds up fools to dishonor.

Go to the ant, you slacker!
Observe its ways and become wise.

Listen to instruction and be wise;
don’t ignore it.

Solomon’s proverbs:

A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.

A wise heart accepts commands,
but foolish lips will be destroyed.

The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,
but the one who controls his lips is wise.

The one who brings ruin on his household
will inherit the wind,
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

There is one who speaks rashly,
like a piercing sword;
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

Every wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

A king favors a wise servant,
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

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The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;
he will not consult the wise.

A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.

One who listens to life-giving rebukes
will be at home among the wise.

Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech increases learning.

A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.

A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,
discerning when he seals his lips.

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The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.

Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler,
and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

A wise king separates out the wicked
and drives the threshing wheel over them.

A wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down its secure fortress.

Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise,
and apply your mind to my knowledge.

My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart will indeed rejoice.

Listen, my son, and be wise;
keep your mind on the right course.

The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly,
and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

These sayings also belong to the wise:

It is not good to show partiality in judgment.