Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(D)

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My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

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Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(A) of Solomon:(B)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(C)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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10 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

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29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(A)

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29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(A)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

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A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

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Children’s children(A) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

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Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

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21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(A)

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21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(A)

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25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

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26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(A)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

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26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

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20 If someone curses their father or mother,(A)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(B)

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20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

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Saying 17

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.(A)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.(B)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.(C)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!(D)

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22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

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24 Whoever robs their father or mother(A)
    and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is partner to one who destroys.(B)

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24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

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31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;(A)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

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31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

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