My son, hear thy father's doctrine, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

My son, consent not unto sinners,

My son, walk not thou with them, refrain thy foot from their ways.

O turn you unto my correction: lo, I will express my mind unto you, and make you understand my words.

Seeing then that I have called, and ye refused it: I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded it,

but all my counsels have ye despised and set my corrections to naught.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not hear: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.

but abhorred my counsel, and despised my correction.

But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and have enough without any fear of evil."

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and keep my commandments by thee,

My son, forget not my law, but see that thine heart keep my commandments.

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither faint when thou are rebuked of him.

My son, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but keep my law and my counsel:

Hear, O ye children, the fatherly exhortation, and take good heed, that ye may learn wisdom.

Yea I shall give you a good reward, if ye will not forsake my law.

For when I myself was my father's dear son, and tenderly beloved of my mother,

he taught me also, saying, "Let thine heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.

Get thee wisdom, get thee understanding, forget not the words of my mouth, and shrink not from them.

Hear, my son, and receive my words, that the years of thy life may be many.

My son, mark my words, and incline thine ear unto my sayings.

My son, give heed unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my prudence:

that thou mayest regard good counsel, and that thy lips may keep nurture.

Hear me therefore, O my son, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

and then say, "Alas, why hated I nurture? Why did my heart despise correction?

Wherefore was not I obedient unto the voice of my teachers, and hearken not unto them that informed me?

Let thy wells flow out abroad, that there may be rivers of water in the streets:

My son, why wilt thou have pleasure in a harlot, and embrace the bosom of another woman?

My son, if thou be surety for thy neighbour, thou hast fastened thine hand with another man:

Therefore my son, do this: and thou shalt be discharged, when thou art come into thy neighbour's danger. Go thy ways then soon, and entreat thy neighbour:

My son, keep thy father's commandments, and forsake not the law of thy mother.

That they may lead thee where thou goest, preserve thee when thou art asleep, and that when thou awakest, thou mayest talk of them.

that they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the flattering tongue of the harlot:

May a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burnt?

But if he may be gotten, he restoreth again seven times as much, or else he maketh recompense with all the goods of his house.

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments by thee.

Keep my commandments and my law, even as the apple of thine eye, and thou shalt live.

Say unto wisdom, "Thou art my sister," and call understanding thy kinswoman:

That she may keep thee from the strange woman, and from the harlot which giveth sweet words.

For out of the window of my house I looked through the trellis,

I have decked my bed with coverings and clothes of Egypt.

My bed have I made to smell of Myrrh, Aloes, and Cinnamon.

Hear me now therefore, O my son, and mark the words of my mouth.

"It is you, O ye men," sayeth she, "whom I call! Unto you, O ye children of men, lift I up my voice.

Give ear, for I will speak of great matters, and open my lips to tell things that be right.

For my throat shall be talking of the truth, and my lips abhor ungodliness.

All the words of my mouth are righteous, there is no frowardness nor falsity therein.

Receive my doctrine therefore, and not silver: and my knowledge, more than fine gold.

"I, wisdom, have my dwelling with knowledge, and prudent counsel is mine own.

With me is the fear of the LORD, and the eschewing of evil. As for pride, disdain, and evil way, and a mouth that speaketh wicked things, I utterly abhor them.

Through me, kings reign: through me, princes make just laws.

Through me, lords bear rule, and all judges of the earth execute judgment.

I am loving unto those that love me, and they that seek me early, shall find me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, excellent goods and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, and precious stones, and mine increase more worth than fine silver.

That I may send prosperity to those that love me, and to increase their treasure.

"The LORD himself had me in possession in the beginning of his ways, before he began his works afore time.

As for the round compass of his world, I make it joyful: for my delight is to be among the children of men.

"Therefore hearken unto me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep my ways.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, and giving attendance at the posts of my doors.

For whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

But whoso offendeth against me, hurteth his own soul. All they that hate me, are the lovers of death."

"O come on your way, eat my bread, and drink my wine, which I have poured out for you.

For through me thy days shall be prolonged, and the years of thy life shall be many.

The talking of the ungodly is how they may lay wait for blood; but the mouth of the righteous will deliver them.

The law is a well of life unto the wise; that it may keep him from the snares of death.

A righteous man museth in his mind how to do good; but the mind of the ungodly imagineth how he may do harm.

A man may well purpose a thing in his heart; but the answer of the tongue cometh of the LORD.

The LORD abhorreth all presumptuous and proud hearts; there may neither strength nor power escape.

A good stomach driveth away a man's disease; but when the spirit is vexed, who may abide it?

House and riches may a man have by the heritage of his elders; but a discreet woman is the gift of the LORD.

My son, heareth no more the doctrine that leadeth thee away from the words of understanding.

Who can say, "My heart is clean, I am innocent from sin"?

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like as are the rivers of water; he may turn it whithersoever he will.

My son, bow down thine ear, and hearken unto the words of wisdom, apply thy mind unto my doctrine -

My son, if thy heart receive wisdom, my heart also shall rejoice:

yea, my reins shall be very glad, if thy lips speak the thing that is right.

My son, give ear and be wise, so shall thine heart prosper in the way.

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes have pleasure in my ways.

"They wounded me," shalt thou say, "but it hath not hurt me. They smote me, but I felt it not. When I am well awakened, I will go to the drink again."

He that imagineth mischief, may well be called an ungracious person.

My son, thou eatest honey and the sweet honeycomb, because it is good and sweet in thy mouth.

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king, and keep no company with them that slide back from his fear:

Say not, "I will handle him, even as he hath dealt with me, and will reward every man according to his deeds."

With patience may a prince be pacified, and with a soft tongue may rigorousness be broken.

Make not thy boast of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what may happen today.

My son, be wise, and thou shalt make me a glad heart; so that I shall make answer unto my rebukers.

A brawling woman and the roof of the house dropping in a rainy day, may well be compared together.

Two things I require of thee, that thou will not deny me before I die.

Remove from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches, only grant me a necessary living.

Lest I be so full, I deny thee, and say, "What fellow is the LORD?" And lest I, being constrained through poverty, fall unto stealing and foreswear the name of my God.

There be three things too high for me, and as for the fourth, it passeth my knowledge.

Such is the way also of a wife that breaketh wedlock, which wipeth her mouth like as when she hath eaten, and sayeth, "As for me, I have done no harm."

Through three things the earth is disquieted, and the fourth may it not bear:

My son, thou son of my body: O my dear beloved son,

that they may drink it, and forget their misery and adversity.

The heart of her husband may safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoils.