The Enticement of Sinners

(A)Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
And (B)do not ignore your mother’s teaching;
For they are a (C)graceful wreath for your head
And (D)necklaces for your neck.

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Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teaching,(A)
for they are a fair garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.(B)

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The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, (A)do not forget my [a]teaching,
But have your heart (B)comply with my commandments;
For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or law

Admonition to Trust and Honor God

My child, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,(A)
for length of days and years of life
    and abundant welfare they will give you.(B)

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A Father’s Instruction

Listen, my sons, to the (A)instruction of a father,
And (B)pay attention so that you may [a]gain understanding,
For I give you good (C)teaching;
(D)Do not abandon my [b]instruction.
When I was a son to my father,
(E)Tender and (F)the only son in the sight of my mother,
He (G)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart (H)take hold of my words;
(I)Keep my commandments and live;

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Lit know
  2. Proverbs 4:2 Or law

Parental Advice

Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)
for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    tender and my mother’s favorite,(B)
he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments and live.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Heb know

Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

10 The (A)proverbs of Solomon.

(B)A wise son makes a father glad,
But (C)a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

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Wise Sayings of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes a glad father,
    but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.(A)

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22 A good person (A)leaves an inheritance to his [a]grandchildren,
And the (B)wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:22 Lit sons’ sons

22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
    but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.(A)

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20 A (A)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man (B)despises his mother.

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20 A wise child makes a glad father,
    but the foolish despise their mothers.(A)

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(A)Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
And the (B)glory of sons is their fathers.

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Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their parents.(A)

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21 He who (A)fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.

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21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
    the parent of a fool has no joy.(A)

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25 A (A)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And (B)bitterness to her who gave birth to him.

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25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
    and bitterness to her who bore them.(A)

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13 A (A)foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the (B)quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping.

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13 A stupid child is ruin to a father,
    and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.(A)

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18 (A)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire [a]his death.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:18 Lit causing him to die

18 Discipline your children while there is hope;
    do not set your heart on their destruction.(A)

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26 He (A)who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

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26 Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother
    are children who cause shame and bring reproach.

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A righteous person who (A)walks in his integrity—
(B)How blessed are his sons after him.

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The righteous walk in integrity—
    happy are the children who follow them!(A)

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