To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel.

To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity.

To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person.

To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.

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!

If they say, "Come with us! We will lie in wait to shed blood; we will ambush an innocent person capriciously.

We will swallow them alive like Sheol, those full of vigor like those going down to the Pit.

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

for they are eager to inflict harm, and they hasten to shed blood.

Surely it is futile to spread a net in plain sight of any bird,

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,

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

Because they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the Lord,

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

by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding,

then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God.

to guard the paths of the righteous and to protect the way of his pious ones.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.

to deliver you from the way of the wicked, from those speaking perversity,

who leave the upright paths to walk on the dark ways,

to deliver you from the adulteress, from the sexually loose woman who speaks flattering words;

For her house sinks down to death, and her paths lead to the place of the departed spirits.

None who go in to her will return, nor will they reach the paths of life.

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

for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you.

Do not let truth and mercy leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.

Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self.

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

She is like a tree of life to those who obtain her, and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed.

By his knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, and the clouds drip down dew.

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

So they will give life to you, and grace to adorn your neck.

Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.

Do not say to your neighbor, "Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it," when you have it with you at the time.

Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he dwells by you unsuspectingly.

Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly.

Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose to imitate any of his ways;

for one who goes astray is an abomination to the Lord, but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright.

Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, yet he shows favor to the humble.

The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up to public contempt.

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.

Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you.

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life.

Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.

Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on.

But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.

The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.

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

Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body.

Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil.

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.

but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.

Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths are unstable but she does not know it.

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

Keep yourself far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,

lest you give your vigor to others and your years to a cruel person,

I almost came to complete ruin in the midst of the whole congregation!"

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

He will die because there was no discipline; because of the greatness of his folly he will reel.

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.

Permit no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise!

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,

There are six things that the Lord hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him:

a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run to evil,

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

When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.

For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life,

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;

for on account of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man preys on your precious life.

People do not despise a thief when he steals to fulfill his need when he is hungry.

Yet if he is caught he must repay seven times over, he might even have to give all the wealth of his house.

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

He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house

Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.

So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him,

That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you!

Suddenly he went after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper's snare

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

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways -- do not wander into her pathways;

Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.

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

All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge.

For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.

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

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

then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,

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