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19 Hear, my son, and be wise,
    and guide your heart in the right way.
20 Do not join with wine bibbers,
    nor with those who glut themselves on meat.
21 For drunkards and gluttons come to poverty,
    and lazing about clothes one in rags.
22 [a]Listen to your father who begot you,
    do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth and do not sell:
    wisdom, instruction, understanding!
24 The father of a just person will exult greatly;
    whoever begets a wise son will rejoice in him.(A)
25 Let your father and mother rejoice;
    let her who bore you exult.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:22–23 Father and mother are associated with truth and wisdom. One should no more rid oneself of truth and wisdom than rid oneself of one’s parents, who are their source.