that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:

My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching:

My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.

My son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,

Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

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

They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."

My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you;

that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

that you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

My son, don't forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:

My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:

My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

for I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law.

For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.

He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don't forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.

Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:

that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth.

and say, "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;

Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.

My son, keep your father's commandment, and don't forsake your mother's teaching.

My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.

Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,

that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

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

"Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.

I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

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

For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.

Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.

"To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.

"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.

"Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.

Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

"Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.

But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."

"Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.

Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.

A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

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

Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"

Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

That your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.

My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:

yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!

My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.

"They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."

My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don't join those who are rebellious:

Don't say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Don't boast about tomorrow; for you don't know what a day may bring forth.

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

"Two things I have asked of you; don't deny me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;

lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is Yahweh?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

"There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don't understand:

"Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!