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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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20 My child, keep your father’s commandment,
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(A)
21 Bind them upon your heart always;
    tie them around your neck.(B)
22 When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
    when you lie down, they[b] will watch over you;
    and when you awake, they[c] will talk with you.(C)
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.22 Heb it
  2. 6.22 Heb it
  3. 6.22 Heb it

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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29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.

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13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father

A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(A)

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

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

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17 A friend loves at all times,
    and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.(A)

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

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19 An ally offended is stronger than a city;[a]
    such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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Footnotes

  1. 18.19 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Meaning of Heb uncertain

13 A stupid child is ruin to a father,
    and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.(A)
14 House and wealth are inherited from parents,
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(B)

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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.
27 My child, stop ignoring instruction,
    straying[a] from words of knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. 19.27 Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain

20 If you curse father or mother,
    your lamp will go out in utter darkness.(A)

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15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far away.(A)

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28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
    that your ancestors set up.(A)

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22 Listen to your father who begot you,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(A)

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24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.(A)
25 Let your father and mother be glad;
    let her who bore you rejoice.

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Like a bird that strays from its nest
    is one who strays from home.

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10 Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent;
    do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is nearby
    than kindred who are far away.(A)

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Those who keep the law are wise children,
    but companions of gluttons shame their parents.(A)

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24 Anyone who robs father or mother
    and says, “That is no crime,”
    is partner to a thug.(A)

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A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad,
    but a companion of prostitutes destroys wealth.(A)

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17 The eye that mocks a father
    and scorns to obey a mother
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley
    and eaten by the vultures.(A)

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