4 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain^[a] insight;
² for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
³ When I was a son with my father,
    tender, and my mother’s favourite,
⁴ he taught me, and said to me,
‘Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments, and live.
⁵ Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away
    from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.
⁸ Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honour you if you embrace her.
⁹ She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.’

¹⁰ Hear, my child, and accept my words,
    that the years of your life may be many.
¹¹ I have taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
¹² When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
¹⁵ Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.

2 My child, if you accept my words
    and treasure up my commandments within you,