Proverbs 4:1-12

A Father’s Wise Instruction

1 aHear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may bgain
Hebrew know
insight,
2for I give you good dprecepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3When I was a son with my father,
etender, fthe only one in the sight of my mother,
4he gtaught me and said to me,
h“Let your heart hold fast my words;
ikeep my commandments, and live.
5 jGet wisdom; get kinsight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
llove her, and she will guard you.
7 mThe beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get ninsight.
8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will ohonor you pif you embrace her.
9She will place on your head qa graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10 rHear, smy son, and accept my words,
that tthe years of your life may be many.
11I have utaught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12When you walk, vyour step will not be hampered,
and wif you run, you will not stumble.

Proverbs 5:1-2

Warning Against Adultery

1 xMy son, be attentive to my wisdom;
yincline your ear to my understanding,
2that you may keep zdiscretion,
and your lips may aaguard knowledge.

Proverbs 6:1

Practical Warnings

1 My son, if you have put up absecurity for your neighbor,
have acgiven your pledge for a stranger,

Proverbs 7:1

Warning Against the Adulteress

1 adMy son, keep my words
and aetreasure up my commandments with you;

Proverbs 7:24

24 And afnow, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 31:1-9

The Words of King Lemuel

1The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What are you doing, my son?
Hebrew  What, my son?
What are you doing, ahson of my womb?
What are you doing, aison of my vows?
3Do ajnot give your strength to women,
your ways to those akwho destroy kings.
4 alIt is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings amto drink wine,
or for rulers to take anstrong drink,
5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and aopervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6Give strong drink to the one who apis perishing,
and wine to aqthose in bitter distress;
Hebrew  those bitter in soul

7 aslet them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8 atOpen your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Hebrew  are sons of passing away

9Open your mouth, avjudge righteously,
awdefend the rights of axthe poor and needy.

1 Corinthians 4:14-15

14I do not write these things ayto make you ashamed, but to admonish you azas my beloved children. 15For bathough you have countless
Greek  you have ten thousand
guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For bcI became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
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