Proverbs 8:33
New International Version
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.

New Living Translation
Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.

English Standard Version
Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

Berean Standard Bible
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

King James Bible
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

New King James Version
Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.

New American Standard Bible
“Listen to instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.

NASB 1995
“Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.

NASB 1977
“Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.

Legacy Standard Bible
Hear discipline and be wise, And do not neglect it.

Amplified Bible
“Heed (pay attention to) instruction and be wise, And do not ignore or neglect it.

Christian Standard Bible
Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it.

American Standard Version
Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

Contemporary English Version
Listen carefully to my instructions, and you will be wise.

English Revised Version
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Listen to discipline, and become wise. Do not leave my ways.

Good News Translation
Listen to what you are taught. Be wise; do not neglect it.

International Standard Version
Listen to instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it.

Majority Standard Bible
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

NET Bible
Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it.

New Heart English Bible
Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.

Webster's Bible Translation
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

World English Bible
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not slight.

Young's Literal Translation
Hear instruction, and be wise, and slight not.

Smith's Literal Translation
Hear ye instructions, and be wise, and ye shall not reject it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Listen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.

New American Bible
Listen to instruction and grow wise, do not reject it!

New Revised Standard Version
Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Hear instruction and be wise and do not go astray.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Hear instruction and receive wisdom and do not go astray.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Excellence of Wisdom
32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. 33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. 34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.…

Cross References
James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 1:5
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

Proverbs 4:1-2
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. / For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Proverbs 9:9
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

Proverbs 15:31-32
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. / He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

Luke 11:28
But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Proverbs 19:20
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. / From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 22:17
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—

Psalm 119:34
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Proverbs 23:12
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.


Treasury of Scripture

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

hear

Proverbs 1:2,3,8
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; …

Proverbs 4:1
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Proverbs 5:1
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

refuse

Proverbs 1:21
She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

Psalm 81:11,12
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me…

Acts 7:35-37
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush…

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Proverbs 8
1. the fame
6. and evidence of wisdom
10. The excellence
12. the nature
15. the power
18. the riches
22. and the eternity of wisdom
32. Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it brings














Listen to instruction
The Hebrew word for "listen" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but actively paying attention and obeying. In the ancient Near Eastern context, listening was a crucial part of learning and wisdom. Instruction, or "מוּסָר" (musar), refers to discipline or correction. This phrase calls the reader to a posture of humility and receptivity, recognizing that wisdom is often imparted through guidance and correction. In a conservative Christian perspective, this aligns with the belief that God’s Word is the ultimate source of instruction, and believers are encouraged to listen to it diligently.

and be wise
The Hebrew root for "wise" is "חָכַם" (chakam), which encompasses not only knowledge but the skillful application of it in daily life. Wisdom in the biblical sense is deeply practical, guiding moral and ethical decisions. This phrase suggests that wisdom is a result of listening to and applying instruction. In the broader scriptural context, wisdom is personified in Proverbs 8 as calling out to humanity, offering life and understanding to those who heed her voice. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, wisdom is seen as a divine attribute, and believers are encouraged to seek it earnestly through prayer and study of the Scriptures.

do not ignore it
The phrase "do not ignore" translates from the Hebrew "אַל־תִּפְרָעוּ" (al-tifra'u), which means to not neglect or dismiss. This is a strong admonition against disregarding the instruction that leads to wisdom. Historically, the Israelites were often warned against ignoring God’s commandments, as neglect led to spiritual and societal downfall. In the context of Proverbs, ignoring wisdom is equated with folly and leads to destructive consequences. For conservative Christians, this serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in their faith and attentive to God’s teachings, understanding that neglecting divine wisdom can lead to spiritual peril.

Verse 33. - Be wise. This will be the effect of attending to the injunction, Hear instruction (see on Proverbs 3:4). The Vatican text of the Septuagint omits this verse; it is added in the Alexandrian and Sin.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Listen
שִׁמְע֖וּ (šim·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to instruction
מוּסָ֥ר (mū·sār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4148: Chastisement, reproof, warning, instruction, restraint

and be wise;
וַחֲכָ֗מוּ (wa·ḥă·ḵā·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 2449: To be wise

do not
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

ignore it.
תִּפְרָֽעוּ׃ (tip̄·rā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6544: To loosen, to expose, dismiss, absolve, begin


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 8:33 Hear instruction and be wise (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 8:32
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