King James Version

Proverbs 14:6

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

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Hebrew

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בִּקֶּשׁbiqeshbeseechבָּקַשׁverb, piel, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “beseech”, a completed actionH1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive afterask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).לֵ֣ץletsmake a mockלוּץadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “make a mock”, the ordinary formH3887properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercedeambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful), teacher.חָכְמָ֣הchakhemahwisdomחׇכְמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “wisdom”, the ordinary formH2451wisdom (in a good sense)skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.וָאָ֑יִןvaayinand elseאַיִןconjunction, particle, negative — “and else”H369a non-entity; generally used as a negative particleelse, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן).וְדַ֖עַתvedaatand cunningדַּעַתconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “and cunning”, the ordinary formH1847knowledgecunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).לְנָב֣וֹןlenavonto understandבִּיןpreposition, verb, niphal, participle, absolute — “to understand”, a verb used as a describing wordH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…נָקָֽלnaqalmake brightקָלַלverb, niphal, participle, absolute — “make bright”, a verb used as a describing wordH7043to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)abate, make bright, bring into contempt, (ac-) curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly afflict, -ly esteem, thing), [idiom] slight(-ly), be swift(-er), (be, be more, make…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easy unto him that hath discernment.

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

American Standard Version (1901)

A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

Young’s Literal Translation

A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent [is] easy.

World English Bible

A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

Darby Translation

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none [for him]; but knowledge is easy unto the intelligent.

Douay-Rheims

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easy unto him that hath discernment.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Thou shalt seek wisdom with bad men, and shalt not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ζητήσεις σοφίαν παρὰ κακοῖς καὶ οὐχ εὑρήσεις, αἴσθησις δὲ παρὰ φρονίμοις εὐχερής.