The fear of the Lord is the starting point and foundation of all true knowledge. However, as we go through life, we do not leave behind the starting point. Rather, we take it with us all through life. For “a wise man will hear and increase learning.” (1:5).

BibleGateway: Proverbs 1:1-19

ESV Text: Proverbs 1:1-19

Proverbs 1:1–19 (Listen)

The Beginning of Knowledge

1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2   To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
3   to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4   to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5   Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6   to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.


7   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Enticement of Sinners

8   Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
    and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9   for they are a graceful garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.
10   My son, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.
11   If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
    let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12   like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13   we shall find all precious goods,
    we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14   throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”—
15   my son, do not walk in the way with them;
    hold back your foot from their paths,
16   for their feet run to evil,
    and they make haste to shed blood.
17   For in vain is a net spread
    in the sight of any bird,
18   but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they set an ambush for their own lives.
19   Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
    it takes away the life of its possessors.

(ESV)

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KJV Text: Proverbs 1:1-19

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     1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

     7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

     10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.(KJV)

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Hymn: TLH 427 : How Firm a Foundation

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