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Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
    and reject not your mother’s teaching;
for they are a fair garland for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.

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Admonition to Trust and Honor God

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments;
for length of days and years of life
    and abundant welfare will they give you.

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Fatherly Advice

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight;
for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
he taught me, and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments, and live;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
    Get wisdom; get insight.[b]
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly,[c] and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Admonition to Keep to the Right Path

10 Hear, my son, 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.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction, do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Heb know
  2. Proverbs 4:5 Reversing the order of the lines
  3. Proverbs 4:8 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

20 My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to him who finds them,
    and healing to all his flesh.

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Warning against Impurity and Infidelity

My son, be attentive to my wisdom,
incline your ear to my understanding;
that you may keep discretion,
    and your lips may guard knowledge.

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20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
    and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart always;
    tie them about your neck.
22 When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
    when you lie down, they[b] will watch over you;
    and when you awake, they[c] will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Heb it
  2. Proverbs 6:22 Heb it
  3. Proverbs 6:22 Heb it

The False Attractions of Adultery

My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
keep my commandments and live,
    keep my teachings as the apple of your eye;
bind them on your fingers,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

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17 He who heeds instruction is on the path to life,
    but he who rejects reproof goes astray.

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16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises the word[a] will die.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Cn Compare 13.13: Heb his ways

22 Hearken to your father who begot you,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.

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Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law strive against them.

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He who keeps the law is a wise son,
    but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

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18 Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint,
    but blessed is he who keeps the law.

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