Pro 1:7, 20-22, 2:1-6, 17:16, 18:1-2, Joh 3:19-20, 8:43, 18:38 | ESV | STEP | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ; fools despise wisdom and instruction .

Proverbs 1:7

7 ^aThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:20-22

The Call of Wisdom

20 ^bWisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at ^cthe entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O ^dsimple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will ^escoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools ^fhate knowledge?

Proverbs 2:1-6

The Value of Wisdom

1 ^gMy son, ^hif you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice ⁱfor understanding,
4 if you seek it like ^jsilver
and search for it as for ^khidden treasures,
5 then ^lyou will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For ^mthe Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 17:16

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand ⁿto buy wisdom
when he has no sense?

Proverbs 18:1-2

1 Whoever ^oisolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only ^pin expressing his opinion.

John 3:19-20

19 ^qAnd this is the judgment: ^rthe light has come into the world, and ^speople loved the darkness rather than the light because ^ttheir works were evil. 20 ^uFor everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, ^vlest his works should be exposed.

John 8:43

43 ^wWhy do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot ^xbear to hear my word.

John 18:38

38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, ^yhe went back outside to the Jews and told them, ^z“I find no guilt in him.