I saw among the inexperienced,[a]
I noticed among the youths,
a young man lacking sense.

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Footnotes

  1. 7:7 Or simple, or gullible, or naive

and I noticed among the naïve—
    that is, I discerned among the youths—
        a senseless young man.

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Start a youth out on his way;(A)
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

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Train a child in the way appropriate for him,
    and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it.

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15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;
a rod of discipline will separate it from him.(A)

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15 A child’s heart has a tendency to do wrong,
    but the rod of discipline removes it far away from him.

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13 Don’t withhold discipline from a youth;
if you punish him with a rod, he will not die.(A)
14 Punish him with a rod,
and you will rescue his life from Sheol.(B)

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13 Don’t withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish him with a rod,
        he won’t die.
14 Punish him with a rod,
    and you will rescue his soul from Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:14 I.e. the realm of the dead

15 A rod of correction imparts wisdom,(A)
but a youth left to himself[a]
is a disgrace to his mother.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:15 Lit youth sent away

15 The rod and rebuke bestow wisdom,
    but an undisciplined child[a] brings shame to his mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:15 Lit. but a child left alone