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

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

¹¹ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.

¹ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away `from them'.

¹¹ as ye know how we `dealt with' each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging `you', and testifying,

¹² to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹⁷ Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.

²⁰ Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

³² Now therefore, `my' sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.

³³ Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

³⁴ Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

³⁵ For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

³⁶ But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

⁴ Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding `thy' kinswoman:

²⁰ My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

²¹ Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.

²² When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

²³ For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

¹ My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee;

² So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding;

³ Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;

⁴ If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:

⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.