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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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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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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

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

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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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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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

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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