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Solomon’s Speeches About Wisdom

First Address to a Son:
Avoid the Company of Sinners

Listen, my son, to your father’s discipline,
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching,
because they are a garland of grace for your head.
They are jewelry for your neck.

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Lecture Against Gang Behavior

My child, may you keep[a] your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teachings,
for they are a garland of favor for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”

Ninth Address to a Son:
Avoid Sexual Immorality

20 My son, keep your father’s commands,
and do not forsake your mother’s teachings.
21 Fasten them permanently to your heart,
and tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk around, they will lead you.
When you lie down, they will stand guard over you.
When you wake up, they will converse with you,
23 because a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,
and the warnings given by discipline are a road to life.

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Commandment and Instruction as Guardians

20 My child, keep the commandment of your father,
    and do not disregard the instruction of your mother.
21 Bind them on your heart continually;
    tie them upon your neck.
22 When you walk,[a] she[b] will lead you,
    When you lie down,[c] she will watch over you,
    and when you awake, she will converse with you.
23 For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light,
    and the way of life[d] is the reproof of discipline,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your walking”
  2. Proverbs 6:22 That is, “commandment” and “instruction”
  3. Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your lying down”
  4. Proverbs 6:23 Hebrew “lives”

The Collected Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

Introduction to Wisdom and Righteousness

A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise child makes a father glad,
    but a foolish child grieves his mother.

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29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
and a stubborn fool will be a slave to a person with a wise heart.

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29 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[a]
    and a fool will serve the wise of heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:29 Or “breath, spirit”

Wise Ways to Live

13 A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
but a scornful son does not listen to a reprimand.

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13 A wise child hears the discipline of a father,
    but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.

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A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction is sensible.

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A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
    but he who guards reproof is prudent.

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Advice for a Wise Son

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish person despises his mother.

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20 A child of wisdom will make a father glad,
    but a foolish person,[a] he despises his mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:20 Literally “foolishness of humankind”

Grandchildren are a crown for the elderly,
and parents are a source of pride for their children.

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The crown of the elderly are grandchildren,[a]
    and the glory of children is their fathers.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:6 Literally “sons of sons”

17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of trouble.

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17 The friend loves at all times[a],
    but a brother is born for adversity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:17 Hebrew “time”

21 The man who fathers a fool has grief,
and the father of an arrogant fool will have no joy.

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21 He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him;
    the father of a fool will not rejoice.

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Avoiding Fools and Foolishness

25 A foolish son is an aggravation to his father
and bitterness to the woman who bore him.

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25 A grief to his father is the child of a fool,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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19 A brother who has been wronged is harder to regain than a strong city,
and disputes are like a bar across the gate of a citadel.

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19 A brother who is offended is worse than a city of strength,
    and quarrels are like the bars of a fortification.

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