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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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Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(D)

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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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Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(C)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(D)

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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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Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(E)

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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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Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(A) of Solomon:(B)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(C)
    but a foolish son brings grief to 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 person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(A)

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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 brings joy to his father,(A)
    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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Children’s children(A) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

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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 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(A)

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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 brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(A)

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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 child is a father’s ruin,(A)
    and a quarrelsome wife is like
    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.(B)

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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 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.(A)

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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 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(A)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

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

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The righteous lead blameless lives;(A)
    blessed are their children after them.(B)

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