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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)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
for they are (B)a graceful garland for your head
    and (C)pendants for your neck.

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20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
    and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
21 Keep their words always in your heart.
    Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
    When you sleep, they will protect you.
    When you wake up, they will advise you.
23 For their command is a lamp
    and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
    is the way to life.

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Warnings Against Adultery

20 (A)My son, keep your father's commandment,
    (B)and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21 (C)Bind them on your heart always;
    (D)tie them around your neck.
22 (E)When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
    (F)when you lie down, they will (G)watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is (H)a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the (I)reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Hebrew it; three times in this verse

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.

The Proverbs of Solomon

10 (A)The proverbs of Solomon.

(B)A wise son makes a glad father,
    (C)but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

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29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
    The fool will be a servant to the wise.

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29 Whoever (A)troubles his own household will (B)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

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13 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]
    a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Hebrew A wise son accepts his father’s discipline.

13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but (A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:5 Hebrew father’s.

(A)A fool (B)despises his father's instruction,
    but (C)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

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

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20 (A)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man 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 (B)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.

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17 A friend is always loyal,
    and a brother is born to help in time of need.

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17 (A)A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.

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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)sires a fool gets himself 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
    (B)and bitterness to (C)her who bore him.

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19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.
    Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.

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19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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