⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,^(A)
9 for they will be a garland^(B) of grace on your head
and a gold chain around your neck.^(C)

3 My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;^(A)
2 for they will bring you
many days, a full life,^[a](B) and well-being.^(C)

4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline,^(A)
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
² for I am giving you good instruction.^(B)
Don’t abandon my teaching.
³ When I was a son with my father,
tender and precious to my mother,
⁴ he taught me and said:
“Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live.^(C)
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;^(D)
don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her,^(E) and she will guard you.
⁷ Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.^(F)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.^(G)
9 She will place a garland of grace on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.”^(H)

¹⁰ Listen, my son. Accept my words,^(I)
and you will live many years.^(J)
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am guiding you on straight paths.^(K)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;^(L)
when you run, you will not stumble.^(M)
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.^(N)
Guard it, for it is your life.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.^(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;^(B)
keep them within your heart.
²² For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.