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The Minor Theme

My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and do not let go of your mother’s teaching.
They will be a graceful wreath for your head
    and a chain for your neck.

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Diligently Pursue Wisdom

Listen, children,[a] to your father’s instruction,
and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
I give you sound teaching,
so do not abandon my instruction.[b]
When I was a son to my father,
    not yet strong[c] and an only son to my mother,
he taught me and told me,
    “Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say;[d]
        keep my commandments and live!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Lit. sons
  2. Proverbs 4:2 Or law
  3. Proverbs 4:3 Lit. delicate
  4. Proverbs 4:4 Lit. embrace my words

Solomon’s Sayings

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son brings joy to his father,
    but a foolish son grieves his mother.

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29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

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

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A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son
    and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the pride of children is their parents.

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21 The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow—
    the father of a fool has no joy.

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to his mother.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:25 Lit. to the one who bore him

13 A father’s ruin is a foolish son,
    and a wife’s quarreling is like[a] dripping water that never stops.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:13 The Heb. lacks like

26 Whoever mistreats his father
    and alienates his mother
        is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.

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20 Whoever curses his father or mother,
    his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.

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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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22 Listen to the one who fathered you,
    and don’t despise your mother in her old age.

23 Purchase truth, but don’t sell it;
    store up[a] wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of a righteous person will greatly rejoice;
    whoever fathers a wise son will be glad because of him.
25 Let your father and mother rejoice;
    make the one who gave birth to you happy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:23 The Heb. lacks store up

24 Whoever steals from his father or mother
    but claims, “It’s no sin,”
        is a companion to someone who demolishes.

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