The Enticement of Sinners

(A)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,

Read full chapter

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)

Read full chapter

Warnings Against Adultery

20 (A)My son, keep your father's commandment,
    (B)and forsake not your mother's teaching.

Read full chapter

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son,(A) keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(B)

Read full chapter

17 The eye that (A)mocks a father
    and (B)scorns to obey a mother
will (C)be picked out by (D)the ravens of the valley
    and eaten by the vultures.

Read full chapter

17 “The eye that mocks(A) a father,
    that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
    will be eaten by the vultures.(B)

Read full chapter

Warning Against Adultery

(A)My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
    (B)incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep (C)discretion,
    and your lips may (D)guard knowledge.

Read full chapter

Warning Against Adultery

My son,(A) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words(B) of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.

Read full chapter

The Value of Wisdom

(A)My son, (B)if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,

Read full chapter

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,(A) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,

Read full chapter

A Father's Wise Instruction

(A)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may (B)gain[a] insight,
for I give you good (C)precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
    (D)tender, (E)the only one in the sight of my mother,
he (F)taught me and said to me,
(G)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    (H)keep my commandments, and live.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Hebrew know

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(E)

Read full chapter

10 My son, if sinners (A)entice you,
    do not consent.

Read full chapter

10 My son, if sinful men entice(A) you,
    do not give in(B) to them.(C)

Read full chapter

(A)Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and (B)you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

Read full chapter

“‘Each of you must respect your mother and father,(A) and you must observe my Sabbaths.(B) I am the Lord your God.(C)

Read full chapter

I am reminded of (A)your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and (B)your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Read full chapter

I am reminded of your sincere faith,(A) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice(B) and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Read full chapter

The Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

Read full chapter

Sayings of King Lemuel

31 The sayings(A) of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

Read full chapter

Warning Against the Adulteress

(A)My son, keep my words
    and (B)treasure up my commandments with you;

Read full chapter

Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

My son,(A) keep my words
    and store up my commands within you.

Read full chapter

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

(A)My son, do not forget my teaching,
    (B)but let your heart keep my commandments,

Read full chapter

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,

Read full chapter

15 my son, (A)do not walk in the way with them;
    (B)hold back your foot from their paths,

Read full chapter

15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(A) on their paths;(B)

Read full chapter