Add parallel Print Page Options

Warnings Against Evil

My ·child [L son], listen to your father’s ·teaching [instruction; discipline]
    and do not ·forget [neglect] your mother’s ·advice [instruction].
[L For] ·Their teaching [L It] will be like ·flowers in your hair [L a gracious garland on your head]
    or ·a necklace [L beads] around your neck.

Read full chapter

The Enticement of Sinners


My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not reject the teaching of your mother.

For they are a garland of grace on your head,
And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.

Read full chapter

Advice to Children

My ·child [L son], do not forget my ·teaching [instruction; law],
    but ·keep my commands in mind [L let your heart/mind protect my commands].
Then ·you will live a long time,
    and your life will be successful [L length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you].

Read full chapter

The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my [a]teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;

For length of days and years of life [worth living]
And tranquility and prosperity [the wholeness of life’s blessings] they will add to you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or law.

Wisdom Is Important

My ·children [L sons], listen to your father’s ·teaching [discipline; instruction];
    pay attention ·so you will understand [L to the knowledge of understanding].
·What I am telling you is good [L I will give you good teaching],
    so do not ·forget [L abandon; forsake] ·what I teach you [L my instruction].
When I was a ·young boy in my father’s house [L son to my father]
    ·and like an only child to [L tender, and the only one of] my mother,
my father taught me and said,
    “Hold on to my words with all your heart.
    ·Keep [Guard] my commands and you will live.

Read full chapter

A Father’s Instruction

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,
And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.

For I give you good doctrine;
Do not [a]turn away from my instruction.

When I was a son with my father (David),
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),

He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:2 Lit forsake.

The Wise Words of Solomon

10 These are the ·wise words [proverbs] of Solomon:

Wise ·children [sons] make their father happy,
but foolish ·children [sons] make their mother sad.

Read full chapter

Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

10 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish [stubborn] son [who refuses to learn] is a grief to his mother.

Read full chapter

22 Good people leave their wealth to their grandchildren,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for ·good [righteous] people.

Read full chapter

22 
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.

Read full chapter

20 Wise ·children [sons] make their father happy,
but foolish ·children [L people] disrespect their mother.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

·Old people are proud of their grandchildren [L Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly],
and ·children are proud of [L the glory/splendor of children are] their parents.

Read full chapter


Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].(A)

Read full chapter

21 It is sad to have a foolish child;
there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.

Read full chapter

21 
He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.

Read full chapter

25 Foolish children make their father sad
and cause their mother great ·sorrow [bitterness].

Read full chapter

25 
A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.

Read full chapter

13 A foolish ·child [son] ·brings [is a] disaster to a father,
and a ·quarreling [contentious] wife is like ·dripping water [constant dripping].

Read full chapter

13 
A foolish (ungodly) son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a [quarrelsome] wife are like a constant dripping [of water].

Read full chapter

18 ·Correct [Discipline] your children while there is still hope;
do not ·let them destroy themselves [or be intent to kill them].

Read full chapter

18 
Discipline and teach your son while there is hope,
And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.

Read full chapter

26 A child who ·robs [devastates] his father and ·sends [drives] away his mother
brings shame and disgrace on himself.

Read full chapter

26 
He who assaults his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who brings shame and disgrace.(A)

Read full chapter

The ·good [righteous] people who ·live honest lives [walk about in innocence]
will be a blessing to their children.

Read full chapter


The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs—
How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].

Read full chapter