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Proverbs 23:22
ESV Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
NIV Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
NASB Listen to your father, who fathered you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.
CSB Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
NLT Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
KJV Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
NKJV Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.

What does Proverbs 23:22 mean?

This kind of plea occurs often in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:8; 4:1; 13:1; 19:20). Parents know how prone children are to go their own way, even when it's unwise. Godly parenting requires patience, consistency, and love, as well as firmness and reasonable discipline. Loving mothers and fathers instruct their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; Ephesians 6:4). This requires the parents to know God's Word, themselves. Deuteronomy 6:7 commands parents to demonstrate their own love for God's teaching. The verse calls upon parents to teach the statutes and rules diligently to their children at home, outdoors, at bedtime, and first thing in the morning.

Solomon also urges proper respect for older parents. The term "despise," as used here, implies scorn and derision, and might also be translated as "disdain." As parents age, it's easy to become frustrated with or dismissive of them. Yet God commands us to honor parents (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1–3). Those "who gave you life" shouldn't be cast aside when they become old.
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