¹ A wise son `heareth' his father's instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.

¹ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

²⁰ A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother.

⁷ He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man `getteth' himself a blot.

⁸ Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

²⁵ If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them.

¹ Hear, `my' sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:

² For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.

³ For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

⁴ And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

⁶ Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.

⁷ Wisdom `is' the principal thing; `therefore' get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

⁸ Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

⁹ She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.

¹⁰ Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.

¹¹ I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.

¹² When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

¹³ Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.

¹⁴ Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.

²⁰ My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.

²¹ Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.

²² For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.

⁶ A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and `findeth it' not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

⁵ A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.

¹⁴ Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:

¹⁵ Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: