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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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The Minor Theme

My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and do not let go of your mother’s teaching.
They will be a graceful wreath for your head
    and a chain for your neck.

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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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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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Diligently Pursue Wisdom

Listen, children,[a] to your father’s instruction,
and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
I give you sound teaching,
so do not abandon my instruction.[b]
When I was a son to my father,
    not yet strong[c] and an only son to my mother,
he taught me and told me,
    “Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say;[d]
        keep my commandments and live!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Lit. sons
  2. Proverbs 4:2 Or law
  3. Proverbs 4:3 Lit. delicate
  4. Proverbs 4:4 Lit. embrace my words

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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Solomon’s Sayings

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son brings joy to his father,
    but a foolish son grieves his mother.

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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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29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
    The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

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29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(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 son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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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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A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,
    and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

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A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son
    and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

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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 pride of children is their parents.

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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 man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow—
    the father of a fool has no joy.

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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 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to his mother.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:25 Lit. to the one who bore him

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

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