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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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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.

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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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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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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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.

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 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
    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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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.

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

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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.

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

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20 Sensible children bring joy to their father;
    foolish children despise their 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 crowning glory of the aged;
    parents[a] are the pride of their children.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:6 Hebrew fathers.

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

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

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

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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.

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

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