A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Parallel translations
- WEB that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
- BSB let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
- NKJV A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
- NASB A wise person will hear and increase in learning, And a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
- NLT Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even the wise grow wiser by listening. It matters because no one outgrows the need to keep learning godly counsel.
Overview
Wisdom is not a fixed possession but a lifelong pursuit; the wise increase in learning and the discerning gain guidance. This humility before instruction marks genuine wisdom over against the fool's self-sufficiency. Such teachability ultimately bows before Christ, in whom wisdom is complete.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 12:1Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
- Prov 9:9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
- 1 Cor 10:15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
- Job 34:16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
- Job 34:10Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
- Ps 119:98–100Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
- Job 34:34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
- 2 Chr 25:16And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
- 1 Sam 25:32–33And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 1:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.