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

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

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

20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

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

My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

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

17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Read full chapter

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

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

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

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Read full chapter

Sayings of King Lemuel

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

Read full chapter

31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

Read full chapter

Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

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

Read full chapter

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

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

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

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

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Read full chapter

25 If one person sins against another, God[a] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will(A) intercede(B) for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:25 Or the judges

25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.

Read full chapter