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My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
for they will be a garland to grace your head,
    and chains around your neck.

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Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teaching,(A)
for they are a fair garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.(B)

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Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(D)

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My son, don’t forget my teaching;
    but let your heart keep my commandments:
for they will add to you length of days,
    years of life, and peace.

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Admonition to Trust and Honor God

My child, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,(A)
for length of days and years of life
    and abundant welfare they will give you.(B)

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Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(C)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(D)

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Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
    Pay attention and know understanding;
for I give you sound learning.
    Don’t forsake my law.
For I was a son to my father,
    tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
He taught me, and said to me:
    “Let your heart retain my words.
    Keep my commandments, and live.

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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)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Heb know

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(E)

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10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father;
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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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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Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(A) of Solomon:(B)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(C)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
    but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

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22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
    but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.(A)

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22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(A)

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20 A wise son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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

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20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(A)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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Children’s children are the crown of old men;
    the glory of children are their parents.

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Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their parents.(A)

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Children’s children(A) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

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21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
    The father of a fool has no joy.

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21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
    the parent of a fool has no joy.(A)

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21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(A)

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
    and bitterness to her who bore them.(A)

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(A)

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