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Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10, King James Version (KJV)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
World English Bible (WEB)
Proverbs 9 (KJV)
- 1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
- 2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
- 3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
- 4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
- 5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
- 6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
- 7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
- 8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
- 9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
- 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
- 11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
- 12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
- 13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
- 14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
- 15To call passengers who go right on their ways:
- 16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
- 17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
- 18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Related verses
Passages that readers often connect with Proverbs 9:10, in the King James Version.
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Proverbs 2:5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
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1769 standardized text (eBible.org eng-kjv). Public domain outside the United Kingdom. Text courtesy of the Crosswire Bible Society and eBible.org. World English Bible Protestant Edition (eBible engwebp, 2026-09-15 snapshot). Public domain. World English Bible is a trademark of eBible.org. Text unmodified; footnotes and formatting omitted. Related verses: OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0), from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.