King James Version

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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Hebrew

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יִרְאַ֣תyiratfearיִרְאָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “fear”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3374fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence[idiom] dreadful, [idiom] exceedingly, fear(-fulness).יְ֭הוָהyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).רֵאשִׁ֣יתreshitfirstרֵאשִׁיתnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “first”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7225the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.דָּ֑עַתdaatcunningדַּעַתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “cunning”, the ordinary formH1847knowledgecunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).חָכְמָ֥הchakhemahwisdomחׇכְמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “wisdom”, the ordinary formH2451wisdom (in a good sense)skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.וּ֝מוּסָ֗רumusarand chastisementמוּסָרconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and chastisement”, the ordinary formH4148properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraintbond, chastening(-eth), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.אֱוִילִ֥יםevilimfoolאֱוִילadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “fool”, the ordinary formH191(figuratively) sillyfool(-ish) (man).בָּֽזוּbazvcontemnבּוּזverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “contemn”, a completed actionH936to disrespectcontemn, despise, [idiom] utterly.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

Young’s Literal Translation

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

World English Bible

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

Darby Translation

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Douay-Rheims

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

The fear of the Lord is the 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.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀρχὴ σοφίας φόβος Κυριου, σύνεσις δὲ ἀγαθὴ πᾶσι τοῖς ποιοῦσιν αὐτήν· εὐσέβεια δὲ εἰς Θεὸν ἀρχὴ αἰσθήσεως, σοφίαν δὲ καὶ παιδείαν ἀσεβεῖς ἐξουθενήσουσιν.