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A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

My child,[a] listen when your father corrects you.
    Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
    and be a chain of honor around your neck.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:8 Hebrew My son; also in 1:10, 15.

20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
    and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
21 Keep their words always in your heart.
    Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
    When you sleep, they will protect you.
    When you wake up, they will advise you.
23 For their command is a lamp
    and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
    is the way to life.

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The Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child[a] brings joy to a father;
    a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:1 Hebrew son; also in 10:1b.

29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
    The fool will be a servant to the wise.

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13 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]
    a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Hebrew A wise son accepts his father’s discipline.

Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:5 Hebrew father’s.

20 Sensible children bring joy to their father;
    foolish children despise their mother.

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Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;
    parents[a] are the pride of their children.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:6 Hebrew fathers.

17 A friend is always loyal,
    and a brother is born to help in time of need.

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21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool;
    there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

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25 Foolish children[a] bring grief to their father
    and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:25 Hebrew A foolish son.

19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.
    Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.

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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.

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

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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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28 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers
    set up by previous generations.

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

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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.

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

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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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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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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