Daily Verse
January 19, 2026
Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
Proverbs 1:8–9 reminds us that wisdom is often first learned close to home, through the loving instruction of those God places in our lives. A father’s guidance and a mother’s teaching are not meant to restrain us but to shape us, protecting us from paths that lead to regret and harm. God frequently uses these voices to form character before He ever expands responsibility.
The imagery of a graceful garland and a chain around the neck shows that wise instruction is an honor, not a burden. When we receive correction with humility, it becomes visible in how we live—bringing dignity, stability, and quiet confidence. Wisdom worn daily becomes a testimony to others.
For believers today, this passage also points beyond earthly parents to God Himself. As we listen attentively to His Word and accept His loving discipline, our lives are adorned with wisdom that reflects His goodness and draws others toward Him.