13 Do not withhold (A)discipline from a child;
    (B)if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 If you strike him with the rod,
    you will (C)save his soul from Sheol.
15 (D)My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart too will be glad.
16 My (E)inmost being[a] will exult
    when your lips speak (F)what is right.
17 Let not your heart (G)envy sinners,
    but continue in (H)the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Surely (I)there is a future,
    and your (J)hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and (K)be wise,
    and (L)direct your heart in the way.
20 Be not among (M)drunkards[b]
    or among (N)gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and (O)slumber will clothe them with rags.

22 (P)Listen to your father who gave you life,
    (Q)and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 (R)Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 (S)The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 (T)Let your father and mother be glad;
    let (U)her who bore you rejoice.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:16 Hebrew My kidneys
  2. Proverbs 23:20 Hebrew those who drink too much wine

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