Passage

Proverbs 1.7

Book: Proverbs · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

5. That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels: 6. To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

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

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: 9. For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck. (Proverbs 1:5-9, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

5. that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6. to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

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

My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching: 9. for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. (Proverbs 1:5-9, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

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. ^{the interpretation: or, an eloquent speech}

7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ^{the beginning: or, the principal part}

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. ^{an: Heb. an adding} (Proverbs 1:5-9, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

5. (The wise doth hear and increaseth learning, And the intelligent doth obtain counsels.) 6. For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.

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

Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother, 9. For a graceful wreath [are] they to thy head, And chains to thy neck. (Proverbs 1:5-9, YLT)

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Setting

Speaker: Solomon (principal); Agur; Lemuel; wise men
Audience: young Israelite men in the wisdom tradition
Location: Israel, Solomonic court
Time period: principal composition c. 970-930 BC (Solomon); compilation c. 700 BC (Hezekiah)

Theological reading

Key words

H3068 - YHWH, YHWH (Strong's H3068). Also appears in: Genesis 2.4, Genesis 2.7, Genesis 2.16-17.
H7225 - reshit, reshit (Strong's H7225). Also appears in: Genesis 1.1, Deuteronomy 21, 1 Samuel 15.

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

Quoted in

Arguments and defeaters:

Concepts:

People:

Solomon

Lexicon:

Passages:

Deuteronomy 21