Proverbs – Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding

The primary author of the book of Proverbs, King Solomon, was the wisest and wealthiest man on the face of the earth.  The Bible says that people came from all over the world to inquire of him and search out his wisdom. 

Proverbs is referred to as “the book of wisdom.”  The words “wisdom” and “wise” are used a total of 97 times throughout the book. Two words frequently used in conjunction with wisdom are “knowledge” (38 times) and “understanding” (41 times).

This study of “Proverbs – Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding” lists each scripture in Proverbs that contains the word(s) wisdom, knowledge or understanding. 

Chapter 1
To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion– A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. (v. 2-9)

Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares.  She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words: “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.  (v.20-22)

Chapter 2
My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk uprightly; he guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths;  (v. 1-15)

Chapter 3
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. (v. 7-8)

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes– Keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid, yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. (v. 13-24)

The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. (v. 35)

Chapter 4
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: do not forsake my law. He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.  (v. 1-13)

Chapter 5
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. (v.1-2)

Chapter 7
My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your nearest kin (v.1-4)

Chapter 8
Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.  She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors:  “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. (v.1-4)

Oh you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. (v. 5-9)

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. (v.14)

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.” (v. 32-36)

Chapter 9
Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. (v. 8-11)

Chapter 10
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.  (v. 1)

Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. (v. 13-14)

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.  The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.  (v. 19-23)

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. (v. 31-32)

Chapter 11
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace. (v. 9, 12)

The fool will be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. (v. 29-30)

Chapter 12
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn. (v. 1-2)

A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will  be despised. He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. (v. 8,11,15,23)

Chapter 13
A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom. (v. 1, 10)

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly. (v. 14-16)

He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. (v. 20)

Chapter 14
The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. (v. 1)

A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who understands. Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit. (v. 6-8)

A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident.  A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated.The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (v. 16-18)

The crown of the wise is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is folly. He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly. (v. 24, 29)

Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known. The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him who causes shame. (v. 33, 35)

Chapter 15
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent.  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so. (v. 2,4,7)

A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. (v. 12, 14)

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, but a man of understanding walks uprightly. The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below. (v. 20, 21, 24)

The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility. (v. 31-33)

Chapter 16
As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, but a wise man will appease it. How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.  (v. 14, 16)

He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. (v. 20-23)

Chapter 17
Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool. (v. 10)

Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it?  A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, and becomes surety for his friend. (v. 16, 18)

 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. (v. 24)

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. (v. 27-28)

Chapter 18
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. (v. 1,2,4)

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (v. 15)

Chapter 19
Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet. (v. 2)

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good. (v. 8)

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. (v. 20)

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.  Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. (v. 25, 27)

Chapter 20
There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. (v. 15)

Chapter 21
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. (v. 11)

Chapter 22
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord; (v. 17-19)

Chapter 23
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. (v. 9)

Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge. (v.12)

My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice (v. 15)

Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way (v. 19)

Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. (v. 23-24)

Chapter 24
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate. (v. 3-7)

So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you have found it, there is a prospect, and your hope will not be cut off. (v. 14)

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.  When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:  a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. (v. 30-34)

Chapter 26
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (v. 12)

Chapter 28
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. (v. 26)

Chapter 29
Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots wastes his wealth. (v. 3)

A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. (v. 11)

The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (v. 15)

Chapter 31
A virtuous woman opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. (v. 26)