3 My son, don’t forget my teaching;
    but let your heart keep my commandments:
² for they will add to you length of days,
    years of life, and peace.

4 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
    Pay attention and know understanding;
² for I give you sound learning.
    Don’t forsake my law.
³ For I was a son to my father,
    tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
⁴ He taught me, and said to me:
    “Let your heart retain my words.
    Keep my commandments, and live.
⁵ Get wisdom.
    Get understanding.
    Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you.
    Love her, and she will keep you.
⁷ Wisdom is supreme.
    Get wisdom.
    Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
    She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
⁹ She will give to your head a garland of grace.
    She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, and receive my sayings.
    The years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I have taught you in the way of wisdom.
    I have led you in straight paths.
¹² When you go, your steps will not be hampered.
    When you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Take firm hold of instruction.
    Don’t let her go.
    Keep her, for she is your life.

²⁰ My son, attend to my words.
    Turn your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Let them not depart from your eyes.
    Keep them in the center of your heart.
²² For they are life to those who find them,
    and health to their whole body.

5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
    Turn your ear to my understanding,
² that you may maintain discretion,
    that your lips may preserve knowledge.

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s commandment,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
²¹ Bind them continually on your heart.
    Tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, it will lead you.
    When you sleep, it will watch over you.
    When you awake, it will talk with you.
²³ For the commandment is a lamp,
    and the law is light.
    Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

7 My son, keep my words.
    Lay up my commandments within you.
² Keep my commandments and live!
    Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
³ Bind them on your fingers.
    Write them on the tablet of your heart.