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A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

My child,[a] listen when your father corrects you.
    Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
    and be a chain of honor around your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:8 Hebrew My son; also in 1:10, 15.

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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Trusting in the Lord

My child,[a] never forget the things I have taught you.
    Store my commands in your heart.
If you do this, you will live many years,
    and your life will be satisfying.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Hebrew My son; also in 3:11, 21.

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

A Father’s Wise Advice

My children,[a] listen when your father corrects you.
    Pay attention and learn good judgment,
for I am giving you good guidance.
    Don’t turn away from my instructions.
For I, too, was once my father’s son,
    tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
    Follow my commands, and you will live.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Hebrew My sons.

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

The Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child[a] brings joy to a father;
    a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:1 Hebrew son; also in 10:1b.

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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22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
    but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.

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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

20 Sensible children bring joy to their father;
    foolish children despise their mother.

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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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Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;
    parents[a] are the pride of their children.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:6 Hebrew fathers.

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

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21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool;
    there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

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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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25 Foolish children[a] bring grief to their father
    and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:25 Hebrew A foolish son.

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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13 A foolish child[a] is a calamity to a father;
    a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

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Footnotes

  1. 19:13 Hebrew son; also in 19:27.

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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18 Discipline your children while there is hope.
    Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

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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

26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother
    are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

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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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The godly walk with integrity;
    blessed are their children who follow them.

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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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