Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother.

My child, if sinners try to entice you, do not consent!

My child, do not go down their way, withhold yourself from their path;

If only you will respond to my rebuke, then I will pour out my thoughts to you and I will make my words known to you.

However, because I called but you refused to listen, because I stretched out my hand but no one paid attention,

because you neglected all my advice, and did not comply with my rebuke,

Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.

they did not comply with my advice, they spurned all my rebuke.

But the one who listens to me will live in security, and will be at ease from the dread of harm.

My child, if you receive my words, and store up my commands within you,

My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord, and do not loathe his rebuke.

My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.

Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.

Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother,

he taught me, and he said to me: "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.

Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.

My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings.

Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established.

My child, be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention to my understanding,

in order to safeguard discretion, and that your lips may guard knowledge.

So now, children, listen to me; do not turn aside from the words I speak.

And you will say, "How I hated discipline! My heart spurned reproof!

For I did not obey my teachers and I did not heed my instructors.

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in your young wife --

a loving doe, a graceful deer; may her breasts satisfy you at all times, may you be captivated by her love always.

But why should you be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of a different woman?

My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor, and have become a guarantor for a stranger,

then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor's power: go, humble yourself, and appeal firmly to your neighbor.

My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping.

Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession.

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding a close relative,

so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words.

For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out

"I have fresh meat at home; today I have fulfilled my vows!

I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance.

So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak.

"To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind.

Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.

For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.

All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked.

Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.

Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness;

by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness.

My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver.

that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries.

The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago.

"So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it.

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway.

For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death."

"Come, eat some of my food, and drink some of the wine I have mixed.

Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live, and proceed in the way of understanding."

For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life.

If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Who can say, "I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?

Do not say, "I will pay back evil!" Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.

Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction.

So that your confidence may be in the Lord, I am making them known to you today -- even you.

to show you true and reliable words, so that you may give accurate answers to those who sent you?

My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;

my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.

May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice.

Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways;

You will say, "They have struck me, but I am not harmed! They beat me, but I did not know it! When will I awake? I will look for another drink."

Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.

Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,

Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done."

Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.

Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die:

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,

lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.

There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand:

O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,