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Parental Advice

Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Heb know

A Father’s Wise Advice

My children,[a] listen when your father corrects you.
    Pay attention and learn good judgment,

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Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Hebrew My sons.

20 My child, keep your father’s commandment,
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(A)

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20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
    and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

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13 A stupid child is ruin to a father,
    and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.(A)

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13 A foolish child[a] is a calamity to a father;
    a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

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Footnotes

  1. 19:13 Hebrew son; also in 19:27.

14 House and wealth are inherited from parents,
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(A)

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14 Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth,
    but only the Lord can give an understanding wife.

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28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
    that your ancestors set up.(A)

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28 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers
    set up by previous generations.

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22 Listen to your father who begot you,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(A)
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.(B)
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.(C)
25 Let your father and mother be glad;
    let her who bore you rejoice.

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22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Get the truth and never sell it;
    also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
24 The father of godly children has cause for joy.
    What a pleasure to have children who are wise.[a]
25 So give your father and mother joy!
    May she who gave you birth be happy.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:24 Hebrew to have a wise son.

A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad,
    but a companion of prostitutes destroys wealth.(A)

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The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
    but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted.

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