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My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
for they will be a garland to grace your head,
    and chains around your neck.

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The Minor Theme

My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and do not let go of your mother’s teaching.
They will be a graceful wreath for your head
    and a chain for your neck.

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20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them continually on your heart.
    Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, it will lead you.
    When you sleep, it will watch over you.
    When you awake, it will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp,
    and the law is light.
    Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

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Parental Counsel about Immorality

20 Keep your father’s commands, my son,
    and never forsake your mother’s rules,[a]
21 by binding them to your heart continuously,
    fastening them around your neck.
22 During your travels wisdom[b] will lead you;
    she will watch over you while you rest;
and when you are startled from your sleep,
    she will commune with you.
23 Because the command is a lamp
    and the Law a light,
        rebukes that discipline are a way of life—

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:20 Or laws
  2. Proverbs 6:22 Lit. wisdom; i.e. wisdom personified as a woman

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father;
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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Solomon’s Sayings

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

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

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29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
    The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

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13 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

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Who is a Wise Son?

13 A wise son heeds[a] a father’s correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 The Heb. lacks heeds

A fool despises his father’s correction,
    but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

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A fool rejects his father’s instructions,
    but anyone who respects[a] reproof acts sensibly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps

20 A wise son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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20 A wise son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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Children’s children are the crown of old men;
    the glory of children are their parents.

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Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the pride of children is their parents.

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17 A friend loves at all times;
    and a brother is born for adversity.

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17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is there[a] for times of trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:17 Lit. born

21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
    The father of a fool has no joy.

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21 The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow—
    the father of a fool has no joy.

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to his mother.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:25 Lit. to the one who bore him

19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city.
    Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

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19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city,
    and his disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

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