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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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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”

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
    and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.
21 Bind them continually upon your heart,
    and tie them around your neck.
22 When you go, they will lead you;
    when you sleep, they will keep you;
    and when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light;
    and reproofs of instruction are the way of 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 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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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 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of 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”

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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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 fool despises his father’s instruction,
    but he who regards reproof is prudent.

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

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

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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 adversity.

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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 He who fathers a fool does it to his sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has 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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25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her 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 offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
    and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

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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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