⁴ To give ^(A)prudence to the ^[a]naive,
To the youth ^(B)knowledge and discretion,

4 Hear, O sons, the ^(A)instruction of a father,
And ^(B)give attention that you may ^[a]gain understanding,
² For I give you ^[b]sound ^(C)teaching;
^(D)Do not abandon my ^[c]instruction.
³ When I was a son to my father,
^(E)Tender and ^(F)the only son in the sight of my mother,
⁴ Then he ^(G)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart ^(H)hold fast my words;
^(I)Keep my commandments and live;
^5 (J)Acquire wisdom! ^(K)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶ “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
^(L)Love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ “^(M)The ^[d]beginning of wisdom is: ^(N)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

5 My son, ^(A)give attention to my wisdom,
^(B)Incline your ear to my understanding;
² That you may ^(C)observe discretion
And your ^(D)lips may reserve knowledge.

9 Wisdom has ^(A)built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
² She has ^[a](B)prepared her food, she has ^(C)mixed her wine;
She has also ^(D)set her table;
³ She has ^(E)sent out her maidens, she ^(F)calls
From the ^(G)tops of the heights of the city:
⁴ “^(H)Whoever is ^[b]naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who ^(I)lacks ^[c]understanding she says,
⁵ “Come, ^(J)eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ “^[d]Forsake your folly and ^(K)live,
And ^(L)proceed in the way of understanding.”

⁸ The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But ^(A)the foolishness of fools is deceit.

¹⁵ The ^[a]naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.

⁵ The plans of the ^(A)diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone ^(B)who is hasty comes surely to poverty.