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Parental Advice

Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)
for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    tender and my mother’s favorite,(B)
he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments and live.(C)
Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away
    from the words of my mouth.(D)
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.(E)
The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.(F)
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.(G)
She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Heb know

The Father’s Wisdom

Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
    and be attentive in order to know insight.
For I have given you good instruction;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son to my father,
    tender and alone before my mother,
he taught me and said to me,
    “May your heart hold fast to my words;
    guard my commandments and live.
Get wisdom and insight;
    do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;
    love her and she will keep you.
The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!
    With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
Cherish her and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will give a garland for your head;
    she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

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