Prologue to Proverbs

Proverbs 1:1–7

Biblical Period

¹The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

²For learning wisdom and discipline; For understanding words of discernment;

³For acquiring the discipline for success, Righteousness, justice, and equity;

⁴For endowing the simple with shrewdness, The young with knowledge and foresight.

⁵—The wise man, hearing them, will gain more wisdom;

The discerning man will learn to be adroit;

⁶For understanding proverb and epigram,

The words of the wise and their riddles.

⁷The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

Fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 1.

Derashot ḥatam sofer (Sermons of Ḥatam Sofer)