"The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One [is] understanding.

And to 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 wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do [His commandments.] His praise endures forever.

Praise the LORD! Blessed [is] the man [who] fears the LORD, [Who] delights greatly in His commandments.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.

"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.

Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

They would have none of my counsel [And] despised my every rebuke.

And say: "How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction!

I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!

A fool despises his father's instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.

A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;