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)

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

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They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(A)

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

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Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(C)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(D)

Let love and faithfulness(E) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(F)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(G)

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My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

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10 Listen, my son,(A) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(B)

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10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

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Warning Against Adultery

20 My son,(A) keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(B)
21 Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.(C)
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,(D)
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,(E)

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20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

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The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(A)

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The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

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

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12 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

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18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(A)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(B)

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18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

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17 “The eye that mocks(A) a father,
    that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
    will be eaten by the vultures.(B)

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17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

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29 Whoever remains stiff-necked(A) after many rebukes
    will suddenly be destroyed(B)—without remedy.(C)

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29 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

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