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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.

Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teaching,(A)
for they are a fair garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.(B)

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

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Footnotes

  1. 6.22 Heb it
  2. 6.22 Heb it
  3. 6.22 Heb it

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.

Wise Sayings of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes a glad father,
    but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.(A)

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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 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.

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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 child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father

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 fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(A)

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

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20 A wise child makes a glad father,
    but the foolish despise their mothers.(A)

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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.

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their parents.(A)

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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 friend loves at all times,
    and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.(A)

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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 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
    the parent of a fool has no joy.(A)

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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 Foolish children are a grief to their father
    and bitterness to her who bore them.(A)

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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 An ally offended is stronger than a city;[a]
    such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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Footnotes

  1. 18.19 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Meaning of Heb uncertain