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13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father

A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(A)

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20 A wise child makes a glad father,
    but the foolish despise their mothers.(A)

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General Maxims

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(A)
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)

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Wise Sayings of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes a glad father,
    but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.(A)

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Parental Advice

Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)
for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    tender and my mother’s favorite,(B)
he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments and live.(C)
Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away
    from the words of my mouth.(D)
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.(E)
The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.(F)
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.(G)
She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”(H)

Admonition to Keep to the Right Path

10 Hear, my child, and accept my words,
    that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.(I)
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.(J)
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of evildoers.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Heb know

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.(A)
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
    and with Sheol we have an agreement;
when the overwhelming scourge passes through
    it will not come to us,
for we have made lies our refuge,
    and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;(B)

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20 My child, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.(A)
22 For they are life to those who find them
    and healing to all their flesh.(B)

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25 If one person sins against another, someone can intercede for the sinner with the Lord,[a] but if someone sins against the Lord, who can make intercession?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to kill them.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.25 Gk Q ms: MT another, God will intercede for him

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for one who understands.

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