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Warnings Against Evil

My ·child [L son], listen to your father’s ·teaching [instruction; discipline]
    and do not ·forget [neglect] your mother’s ·advice [instruction].
[L For] ·Their teaching [L It] will be like ·flowers in your hair [L a gracious garland on your head]
    or ·a necklace [L beads] around your neck.

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Advice to Children

My ·child [L son], do not forget my ·teaching [instruction; law],
    but ·keep my commands in mind [L let your heart/mind protect my commands].
Then ·you will live a long time,
    and your life will be successful [L length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you].

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Wisdom Is Important

My ·children [L sons], listen to your father’s ·teaching [discipline; instruction];
    pay attention ·so you will understand [L to the knowledge of understanding].
·What I am telling you is good [L I will give you good teaching],
    so do not ·forget [L abandon; forsake] ·what I teach you [L my instruction].
When I was a ·young boy in my father’s house [L son to my father]
    ·and like an only child to [L tender, and the only one of] my mother,
my father taught me and said,
    “Hold on to my words with all your heart.
    ·Keep [Guard] my commands and you will live.
·Get [Acquire] wisdom and ·get [acquire] understanding.
    Don’t forget or ·ignore [turn away from] ·my words [L the speeches of my mouth].
·Hold on to wisdom [L Don’t abandon her; C Wisdom is here personified as a woman; 1:20–33; 8:1—9:6], and it [or she] will ·take care of [guard] you.
    Love ·it [or her], and ·it [or she] will ·keep you safe [protect you].
·Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom [L The beginning of wisdom is: Get/Acquire wisdom].
    ·If it costs everything you have [L Above all your acquisitions], ·get [acquire] understanding.
·Treasure wisdom [Highly esteem her], and ·it [or she] will ·make you great [exalt you];
    ·hold on to it [or embrace her], and ·it [or she] will bring you honor.
·It will be like flowers in your hair [L She will place on your head a graceful garland;]
    ·and like a beautiful crown on your head [she will bestow on you a crown of glory].”

10 My ·child [L son], listen and ·accept what I say [L take in my speech].
    Then ·you will have a long life [L your years will be multiplied].
11 I am ·guiding [L teaching] you in the way of wisdom,
    and I am leading you on the ·right [or straight] path.
12 ·Nothing will hold you back [L When you walk, your step will not be hindered];
    ·you will not be overwhelmed [L when you run, you will not stumble].
13 ·Always remember what you have been taught [L Be determined/resolute in our instruction],
    and don’t ·let go of it [slack off].
·Keep all that you have learned [L Protect it];
    it is ·the most important thing in [L your] life.

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20 My ·child [L son], pay attention to my words;
    ·listen closely to what I say [L bend your ear to my speech].
21 Don’t ·ever forget my words [L let your eyes slip];
    ·keep them always in mind [L guard them in your heart].
22 They are ·the key to life [L life] for those who find them;
    they bring health to the whole body.

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Warning About Adultery

My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
    ·listen [L bend your ear] to my words of understanding.
·Be careful to use good sense [or So you might keep discrete]
    and ·watch what you say [L your lips might protect knowledge].

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Warning About Adultery

20 My son, ·keep [protect] your father’s commands,
    and don’t ·forget [L abandon; forsake] your mother’s ·teaching [instruction].
21 ·Keep their words in mind [L Bind them to your heart] forever
    ·as though you had them tied [fasten them] around your neck.
22 They will ·guide [lead] you when you walk.
    They will ·guard [protect] you when you sleep.
    They will ·speak to you [or occupy your attention] when you are awake.
23 These commands are like a lamp;
    this ·teaching [instruction] is like a light [C making things clear].
And ·the correction that comes from them [L disciplined correction]
    ·will help you have [L is the path of] life.

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The Woman of Adultery

My son, ·remember what I say [guard my speech], and ·treasure [store/hide in you] my commands.

·Obey [Guard] my commands, and you will live.
    Guard my ·teachings [instructions] ·as you would your own [L like the apple of your] eyes.
·Remind yourself of them [L Bind them on your fingers];
    write them on your heart as if on a tablet.

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17 Whoever ·accepts correction [guards instruction/discipline] is on the way to life,
but whoever ·ignores [abandons] correction ·will lead others away from life [L wanders aimlessly].

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16 Those who ·obey [guard] the commands ·protect [guard] themselves,
but those who ·are careless [L despise their way] will die.

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22 Listen to your father, who ·gave you life [begot you],
    and do not ·forget [despise] your mother when she is old.

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Those who ·disobey what they have been taught [forsake/abandon instruction/law] praise the wicked,
but those who ·obey what they have been taught [guard instruction/law] ·are against [battle] them.

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Children who ·obey what they have been taught [protect instruction/law] are wise,
but friends of ·troublemakers [or gluttons] disgrace their parents [Deut. 28:18–21].

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18 Where there is no ·word from God [L vision; prophecy], ·people are uncontrolled [T the people perish],
but those who ·obey what they have been taught [L guard the law] are ·happy [blessed].

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