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

²⁰ ¶ ^[a]Wisdom crieth without: she uttereth her voice in the ^[b]streets.

²¹ She calleth in the high street, among the prease in the enterings of the gates, and uttereth her words in the city, saying,

²² O ye ^[c]foolish, how long will ye love foolishness? and the scornful take their pleasure in scorning? and the fools hate knowledge?

²³ (Turn you at my correction: lo, I will pour out my mind unto you, and make you understand my words.)

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused: I have stretched out mine hand, and none would regard.

²⁵ But ye have despised all my counsel, and would none of my correction,

²⁶ I will also ^[d]laugh at your destruction, and mock when your fear cometh.

²⁷ When ^[e]your fear cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirlwind: when affliction and anguish shall come upon you,

²⁸ Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not ^[f]find me,

²⁹ Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

³⁰ They would none of my counsel, but ^[g]despised all my correction.

³¹ Therefore shall they eat of the ^[h]fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

³² For ^[i]ease slayeth the foolish, and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them.

³³ But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from fear of evil.

¹¹ ¶ My son, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieved with his correction.

^12 (A)For the Lord correcteth him, whom he loveth, even as the father doth the child, in whom he delighteth.

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.

⁷ He that reproveth a scorner, purchaseth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh the wicked, getteth himself a ^[a]blot.

⁸ Rebuke not a ^[b]scorner, lest he hate thee: but rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

¹⁷ He that regardeth instruction is in the way of life: but he that refuseth correction, goeth out of the way.

12 ¹ He that loveth instruction, loveth knowledge: but he that hateth correction, is a fool.

13 ¹ A wise son will obey the instruction of his father: but a scorner will hear no rebuke.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame is to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth correction, shall be honored.

⁵ A fool despiseth his father’s instruction, but he that regardeth correction, is prudent.