²⁰ Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.

¹⁵ The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the wise man gives ear to suggestions.

¹⁹ Now there was a certain man of great wealth, who was dressed in fair clothing of purple and delicate linen, and was shining and glad every day.

²⁰ And a certain poor man, named Lazarus, was stretched out at his door, full of wounds,

²¹ Desiring the broken bits of food which came from the table of the man of wealth; and even the dogs came and put their tongues on his wounds.

²² And in time the poor man came to his end, and angels took him to Abraham's breast. And the man of wealth came to his end, and was put in the earth.

²³ And in hell, being in great pain, lifting up his eyes he saw Abraham, far away, and Lazarus on his breast.

³⁴ Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.

³⁵ For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.

¹ Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:

¹ My son, if you will take my words to your heart, storing up my laws in your mind;

² So that your ear gives attention to wisdom, and your heart is turned to knowledge;

³ Truly, if you are crying out for good sense, and your request is for knowledge;

⁴ If you are looking for her as for silver, and searching for her as for stored-up wealth;

⁵ Then the fear of the Lord will be clear to you, and knowledge of God will be yours.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; out of his mouth come knowledge and reason:

⁷ He has salvation stored up for the upright, he is a breastplate to those in whom there is no evil;

⁸ He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes care of those who have the fear of him.

⁹ Then you will have knowledge of righteousness and right acting, and upright behaviour, even of every good way.

⁸ My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother:

¹⁴ In the morning give us your mercy in full measure; so that we may have joy and delight all our days.

¹² So give us knowledge of the number of our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.

³⁷ Give attention to the good man, and take note of the upright; because the end of that man is peace.

²⁹ If only they were wise, if only this was clear to them, and they would give thought to their future!

¹⁶ Who gave you manna for your food in the waste land, a food which your fathers had never seen; so that your pride might be broken and your hearts tested for your good in the end;

¹⁰ Who is able to take the measure of the dust of Jacob or the number of the thousands of Israel? May my death be the death of the upright and my last end like his!