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Lecture Against Gang Behavior

My child, may you keep[a] your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teachings,
for they are a garland of favor for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”

Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teaching,(A)
for they are a fair garland for your head
    and pendants for your neck.(B)

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Wisdom and Piety

My child, do not forget my instruction,
    and may your heart guard my commands.
For length of days, years of life,
    and peace they[a] shall add to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:2 That is, “my commands” (3:1)

Admonition to Trust and Honor God

My child, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,(A)
for length of days and years of life
    and abundant welfare they will give you.(B)

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The Father’s Wisdom

Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
    and be attentive in order to know insight.
For I have given you good instruction;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son to my father,
    tender and alone before my mother,
he taught me and said to me,
    “May your heart hold fast to my words;
    guard my commandments and live.

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Parental Advice

Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)
for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    tender and my mother’s favorite,(B)
he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments and live.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Heb know

Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise child makes a father glad,
    but a foolish child grieves his mother.

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Wise Sayings of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes a glad father,
    but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.(A)

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22 He who is good will leave an inheritance to his grandchildren,[a]
    and stored up for the righteous is the wealth of a sinner.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:22 Literally “sons of sons”

22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
    but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.(A)

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20 A child of wisdom will make a father glad,
    but a foolish person,[a] he despises his mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:20 Literally “foolishness of humankind”

20 A wise child makes a glad father,
    but the foolish despise their mothers.(A)

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The crown of the elderly are grandchildren,[a]
    and the glory of children is their fathers.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:6 Literally “sons of sons”

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their parents.(A)

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21 He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him;
    the father of a fool will not rejoice.

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21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
    the parent of a fool has no joy.(A)

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25 A grief to his father is the child of a fool,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
    and bitterness to her who bore them.(A)

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13 A foolish child is a ruin to his father,
    and the quarreling of a woman[a] is a continuous dripping.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:13 Or “wife”

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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18 Discipline your child, for there is hope,
    but on his destruction do not set your desire.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:18 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

18 Discipline your children while there is hope;
    do not set your heart on their destruction.(A)

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26 He who does violence to a father, he who chases away a mother,
    is a child who causes shame and brings reproach.

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26 Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother
    are children who cause shame and bring reproach.

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He who walks in his integrity is righteous;
    happy are his children who follow him.

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The righteous walk in integrity—
    happy are the children who follow them!(A)

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