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

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

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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 the mother who bore him.(A)

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26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(A)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

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20 If someone curses their father or mother,(A)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(B)

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Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(A)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(B)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(C)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!(D)

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24 Whoever robs their father or mother(A)
    and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is partner to one who destroys.(B)

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31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(A)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

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29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.(A)

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22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

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A wife of noble character(A) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(B)

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14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

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22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(A)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(B)

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13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,(A)
    and a quarrelsome wife is like
    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.(B)

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,(C)
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(D)

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Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(A)

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15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping(A)
    of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
    or grasping oil with the hand.

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