The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.

My son, do not walk in the way with them.
Keep your feet from their path,

My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,

For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father,
And give attention that you may gain understanding,

When I was a son to my father,
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

Hear, my son, and accept my sayings
And the years of your life will be many.

My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.

My son, give attention to my wisdom,
Incline your ear to my understanding;

Now then, my sons, listen to me
And do not depart from the words of my mouth.

For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress
And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor,
Have given a pledge for a stranger,

Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.

My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

My son, keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.

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

“To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.

Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.

“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.

The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

He who withholds his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.

A foolish son is a grief to his father
And bitterness to her who bore him.

A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire his death.

He who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
How blessed are his sons after him.

My son, if your heart is wise,
My own heart also will be glad;

Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way.

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.

Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.

My son, eat honey, for it is good,
Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;

My son, fear the Lord and the king;
Do not associate with those who are given to change,

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches me.

He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also delight your soul.

He who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be a son.

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!

What, O my son?
And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?