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

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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Footnotes

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

13 A rebellious son is a calamity to his father, and a nagging wife annoys like constant dripping.

14 A father can give his sons homes and riches, but only the Lord can give them understanding wives.

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26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother
    are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,
    you will turn your back on knowledge.

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26 A son who mistreats his father or mother is a public disgrace.

27 Stop listening to teaching that contradicts what you know is right.

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20 If you insult your father or mother,
    your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

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20 God puts out the light of the man who curses his father or mother.

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15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
    but physical discipline will drive it far away.

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15 A youngster’s heart is filled with rebellion, but punishment will drive it out of him.

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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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28 Do not move the ancient boundary marks. That is stealing.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:28 That is stealing, implied, see 23:10-11.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

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22 Listen to your father’s advice and don’t despise an old mother’s experience.

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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.

24-25 The father of a godly man has cause for joy—what pleasure a wise son is! So give your parents joy!

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A person who strays from home
    is like a bird that strays from its nest.

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A man who strays from home is like a bird that wanders from its nest.

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10 Never abandon a friend—
    either yours or your father’s.
When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.
    It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

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10 Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. Then you won’t need to go to a distant relative for help in your time of need.

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Young people who obey the law are wise;
    those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 28:7 Hebrew their father.

Young men who are wise obey the law; a son who is a member of a lawless gang is a shame to his father.

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24 Anyone who steals from his father and mother
    and says, “What’s wrong with that?”
    is no better than a murderer.

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24 A man who robs his parents and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.

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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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A wise son makes his father happy, but a lad who hangs around with prostitutes disgraces him.

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17 The eye that mocks a father
    and despises a mother’s instructions
will be plucked out by ravens of the valley
    and eaten by vultures.

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17 A man who mocks his father and despises his mother shall have his eye plucked out by ravens and eaten by vultures.

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