Avoid the Path of the Violent

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,(A)

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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.

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Footnotes

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

Wisdom’s Plea

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;
she raises her voice in the public squares.(A)
21 She cries out above[a] the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(B) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(C)
23 If you respond to my warning,[b](D)
then I will pour out my spirit on you(E)
and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused,(F)
extended my hand and no one paid attention,(G)
25 since you neglected all my counsel(H)
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.(I)
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.(J)
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,(K)
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,(L)
31 they will eat the fruit of their way(M)
and be glutted with their own schemes.(N)
32 For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them,(O)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be free from the fear of danger.”(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Lit at the head of
  2. Proverbs 1:23 Lit back to my reprimand

Wisdom Shouts in the Streets

20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.
    She cries out in the public square.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,
    to those gathered in front of the city gate:
22 “How long, you simpletons,
    will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
    How long will you fools hate knowledge?
23 Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
    and make you wise.

24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
    I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
25 You ignored my advice
    and rejected the correction I offered.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
    I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,
    and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer.
    Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge
    and chose not to fear the Lord.
30 They rejected my advice
    and paid no attention when I corrected them.
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
    choking on their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
    Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
    untroubled by fear of harm.”

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11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;(A)
12 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.(B)

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11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:12 Greek version reads loves, / and he punishes those he accepts as his children. Compare Heb 12:6.

A Father’s Example

Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline,(A)
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

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A Father’s Wise Advice

My children,[a] listen when your father corrects you.
    Pay attention and learn good judgment,

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Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Hebrew My sons.

The one who corrects a mocker
will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.[a]
Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;(A)
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit man his blemish

Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
    Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
So don’t bother correcting mockers;
    they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
    and they will love you.

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17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,
but the one who rejects correction goes astray.(A)

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17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,
    but those who ignore correction will go astray.

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12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.(A)

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12 To learn, you must love discipline;
    it is stupid to hate correction.

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13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

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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.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.(A)

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18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;
    if you accept correction, you will be honored.

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A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.(A)

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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.

12 A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;(A)
he will not consult the wise.

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12 Mockers hate to be corrected,
    so they stay away from the wise.

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32 Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself,(A)
but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Lit acquires a heart

32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
    but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

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