Proverbs 13:1

⁵A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

⁷One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse. ⁸Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.

²⁰A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

¹Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding; ²for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law. ³For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother. ⁴He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live. ⁵Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth. ⁶Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. ⁷Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. ⁸Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her. ⁹She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.” ¹⁰Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many. ¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths. ¹²When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble. ¹³Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life. ¹⁴Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.

^1[+] The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

²⁵If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because the LORD intended to kill them.

¹⁴Therefore hear the LORD’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem: ¹⁵“Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol.^[+] When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’”

²⁰My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. ²¹Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. ²²For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.