The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, (A)do not forget my [a]teaching,
But have your heart (B)comply with my commandments;
For (C)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:1 Or law

Trusting in the Lord

My child,[a] never forget the things I have taught you.
    Store my commands in your heart.
If you do this, you will live many years,
    and your life will be satisfying.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Hebrew My son; also in 3:11, 21.

One who (A)corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And one who rebukes a wicked person gets [a]insults for himself.
(B)Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;
(C)Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser;
Teach a righteous person and he will (D)increase his insight.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit a 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.
Instruct the wise,
    and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
    and they will learn even more.

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The (A)wise of heart will receive commands,
But [a]a babbling fool will come to ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:8 Lit the foolish of lips

The wise are glad to be instructed,
    but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

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15 The (A)way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.

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15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to others.

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Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

13 A (A)wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a (B)scoffer does not 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.

13 One who (A)despises the word will do badly,
But one who fears the commandment will be (B)rewarded.

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13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
    those who respect a command will succeed.

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31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke
Will stay among the wise.

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31 If you listen to constructive criticism,
    you will be at home among the wise.

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10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.

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10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding
    than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

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16 One who (A)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But one who [a]is careless of [b]conduct will die.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Lit despises
  2. Proverbs 19:16 Lit ways

16 Keep the commandments and keep your life;
    despising them leads to death.

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20 (A)Listen to advice and accept discipline,
So that you may be wise [a]the rest of your days.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your latter end

20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
    so you will be wise the rest of your life.

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25 (A)Strike a scoffer and the naive may become clever,
But (B)rebuke one who has understanding, and he will [a]gain knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:25 Lit discern

25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;
    if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

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27 Stop listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

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27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,
    you will turn your back on knowledge.

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