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

Admonition to Trust and Honor God

My child, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,(A)
for length of days and years of life
    and abundant welfare they will give you.(B)

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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

General Maxims

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(A)
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)
Give instruction[a] to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
    teach the righteous, and they will gain in learning.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.9 Heb lacks instruction

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 of heart will heed commandments,
    but one with foolish lips will come to ruin.(A)

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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 advice.(A)

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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 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

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 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
    but those who respect a command will be rewarded.(A)

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

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31 The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
    will lodge 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 rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
    than a hundred blows into 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 Those who keep the commandment will live;
    those who are heedless of their ways will die.(A)

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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 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom for the future.(A)

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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 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
    reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.(A)

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

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Footnotes

  1. 19.27 Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain