4 Listen, my sons,^(A) to a father’s instruction;^(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.^(C)
2 I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ 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)
5 Get wisdom,^(F) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(G)
    love her, and she will watch over you.^(H)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all^(I) you have,^[b] get understanding.^(J)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.^(K)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.^(L)”

⁵ He decreed statutes^(A) for Jacob^(B)
    and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
    to teach their children,
⁶ so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,^(C)
    and they in turn would tell their children.
⁷ Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget^(D) his deeds
    but would keep his commands.^(E)
8 They would not be like their ancestors^(F)—
    a stubborn^(G) and rebellious^(H) generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
    whose spirits were not faithful to him.