The Enticement of Sinners

(A)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
for they are (B)a graceful garland for your head
    and (C)pendants for 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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Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

(A)My son, do not forget my teaching,
    (B)but let your heart keep my commandments,
for (C)length of days and years of life
    and (D)peace they will add to you.

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The Blessings of Trusting God

My son, don’t forget my instruction,
and keep my commandments carefully in mind.[a]
For they will add length to your days, years to your life,
    and abundant peace to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Lit. Let your heart keep my commandments

A Father's Wise Instruction

(A)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may (B)gain[a] insight,
for I give you good (C)precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    (D)tender, (E)the only one in the sight of my mother,
he (F)taught me and said to me,
(G)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    (H)keep my commandments, and live.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Hebrew know

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

The Proverbs of Solomon

10 (A)The proverbs of Solomon.

(B)A wise son makes a glad father,
    (C)but a foolish son is a sorrow 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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22 (A)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but (B)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

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22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
    but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.

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20 (A)A wise son makes a glad father,
    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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(A)Grandchildren are (B)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.

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Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the pride of children is their parents.

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21 He who (A)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and 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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25 (A)A foolish son is a grief to his father
    (B)and bitterness to (C)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

13 (A)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and (B)a wife's quarreling is (C)a continual dripping of rain.

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13 A father’s ruin is a foolish son,
    and a wife’s quarreling is like[a] dripping water that never stops.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:13 The Heb. lacks like

18 (A)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on (B)putting him to death.

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18 Discipline your son while there is still hope—
    but don’t set your heart on his destruction.

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26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is (A)a son who brings shame and reproach.

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26 Whoever mistreats his father
    and alienates his mother
        is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.

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The righteous who (A)walks in his integrity—
    (B)blessed are his children after him!

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The righteous person lives a life of integrity;
    happy are his children who follow him!

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