Honor for Father and Mother

1 Hear me, your father, my children, and do what you hear, so that you all may be safe. 2 For the Lord honors the father over the children, and has confirmed the judgment of the mother over her sons.⁠a 3 He who honors his father will make atonement for sins.⁠b 4 He who gives glory to his mother is like someone who stores up treasure. 5 Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children. He will be heard when he prays. 6 He who gives glory to his father will live a long life. He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother, 7 and will serve his parents as masters.

8 Honor your father in action and word, so that his blessing may come on you. 9 For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children, but the curse of the mother uproots the foundations. 10 Don’t glorify yourself at your father’s dishonor, for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you. 11 For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a mother in dishonor is a disgrace to her children.

12 My son, help your father in his old age, and don’t grieve him as long as he lives. 13 If he fails in understanding, have patience with him. Don’t dishonor him in your full strength. 14 For the kindness to your father will not be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be added to build you up. 15 In your day of distress it will be remembered for you, your sins will melt away like ice in warm weather.⁠c 16 He who abandons his father is like a blasphemer. He who provokes his mother is cursed by the Lord.

Humility and the Limits of Knowledge

17 My son, carry out your business humbly, and you will be loved by a person who is acceptable to God.⁠d 18 The greater you are, the more you should humble yourself, and you will find favor with the Lord. 20 For the power of the Lord is great, and he is glorified by those who are lowly.

21 Don’t seek things that are too hard for you, and don’t investigate things that are beyond your ability.⁠e 22 Think about the things that have been commanded to you, for you have no need of the things that are secret. 23 Don’t be overly busy in tasks that are beyond you, for more things are shown to you than people can understand. 24 For the conceit of many has led them astray. Bad ideas have led their judgment astray.

Stubbornness and Generosity

26 A stubborn heart will do badly at the end. He who loves danger will die in it.⁠f 27 A stubborn heart will be burdened with troubles. The sinner will pile sin on sin. 28 There is no cure for the disaster that strikes the proud, for a weed of wickedness has taken root in him.

29 The heart of the prudent will understand a proverb. A wise man desires the ear of a listener. 30 Water will quench a flaming fire, and giving to the poor will make atonement for sins.⁠g 31 Anyone who repays kindness thinks of what comes afterward. When he falls, he will find support.