Proverbs 1:7

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning [1] of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1

Other Translations of Proverbs 1:7

New International Version

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but foolsThe Hebrew words rendered "fool" in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient. despise wisdom and instruction.

English Standard Version

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

The Message

⁷ Start with God - the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

New King James Version

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

New Living Translation

⁷ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 1:7

Commentary on Proverbs 1:7-9

(Read Proverbs 1:7-9)

Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who follow their own devices, without regard to reason, or reverence for God. Children are reasonable creatures, and when we tell them what they must do, we must tell them why. But they are corrupt and wilful, therefore with the instruction there is need of a law. Let Divine truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they shall be so to us.