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My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
for they will be a garland to grace your head,
    and chains around your neck.

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The Prologue: Embrace Wisdom

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
    and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
for they will be a garland of grace on your head,
    and chains about your neck.

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My son, don’t forget my teaching;
    but let your heart keep my commandments:
for they will add to you length of days,
    years of life, and peace.

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The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments;
for length of days and long life
    and peace will they add to you.

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Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
    Pay attention and know understanding;
for I give you sound learning.
    Don’t forsake my law.
For I was a son to my father,
    tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
He taught me, and said to me:
    “Let your heart retain my words.
    Keep my commandments, and live.

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Wisdom Is Supreme

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,
    and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
For I was my father’s son,
    tender and the only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He also taught me and said to me,
    “Let your heart retain my words;
    keep my commandments, and live.

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10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father;
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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The Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

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22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
    but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

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22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
    and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

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20 A wise son makes a father glad,
    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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Children’s children are the crown of old men;
    the glory of children are their parents.

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Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
    and the glory of children are their fathers.

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21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
    The father of a fool has no joy.

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21 He who fathers a fool does it to his sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father.
    A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

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13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father,
    and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping of water.

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18 Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    don’t be a willing party to his death.

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18 Chasten your son while there is hope,
    and let not your soul spare for his crying.

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26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother
    is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
    is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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A righteous man walks in integrity.
    Blessed are his children after him.

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The just man walks in his integrity;
    his children are blessed after him.

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