⁸ My son, hear thy ^[a]father’s instruction, and forsake not thy ^[b]mother’s teaching.

⁹ For they shall be ^[c]a comely ornament unto thine head, and as chains for thy neck.

4 1 Wisdom and her fruits ought to be searched. 14 The way of the wicked must be refused. 20 By the word of God the heart, eyes, and course of life must be guided.

¹ Hear, O ye children, the instruction of a ^[a]father, and give ear to learn understanding.

² For I do give you a good doctrine: therefore forsake ye not my law.

³ For I was my father’s son, tender and dear in the sight of my mother,

⁴ When he ^[b]taught me, and said unto me, Let thine heart hold fast my words: keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.

10 In this Chapter, and all that follow, unto the thirtieth, the wise man exhorteth by divers sentences, which he calleth Parables, to follow virtue, and flee vice: and also showeth what profit cometh of wisdom, and what hindrance proceedeth of foolishness.

THE PARABLE OF SOLOMON.

¹ A wise ^(A)son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is an heaviness to his mother.

²⁹ He that troubleth his own ^[a]house, shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be ^[b]servant to the wise in heart.