13 (A)Do not withhold correction from a child,
For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 You shall beat him with a rod,
And deliver his soul from [a]hell.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself;
16 Yes, my [b]inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.

17 (B)Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But (C)be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
18 (D)For surely there is a [c]hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.
20 (E)Do not mix with winebibbers,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

22 (F)Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 (G)Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24 (H)The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who bore you rejoice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:14 Or Sheol
  2. Proverbs 23:16 Lit. kidneys
  3. Proverbs 23:18 Future, lit. latter end

Saying 13

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14 Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.(A)

Saying 14

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart will be glad indeed;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.(B)

Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(C) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(D)

Saying 16

19 Listen, my son,(E) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine(F)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,(G)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

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

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