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)”

23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what^[a] is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
³ Do not crave his delicacies,^(A)
    for that food is deceptive.

⁴ Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
⁵ Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,^(B)
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.^(C)

⁶ Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;^(D)
7 for he is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about the cost.^[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
⁸ You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.

⁹ Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.^(E)

¹⁰ Do not move an ancient boundary stone^(F)
    or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
¹¹ for their Defender^(G) is strong;^(H)
    he will take up their case against you.^(I)

¹² Apply your heart to instruction^(J)
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
¹⁴ Punish them with the rod
    and save them from death.^(K)

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my heart will be glad indeed;
¹⁶ my inmost being will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.^(L)

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy^(M) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
¹⁸ There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.^(N)

¹⁹ Listen, my son,^(O) and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
²⁰ Do not join those who drink too much wine^(P)
    or gorge themselves on meat,
²¹ for drunkards and gluttons become poor,^(Q)
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

²² Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.^(R)
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.^(S)
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.^(T)
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!^(U)

²⁶ My son,^(V) give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,^(W)
27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,^(X)
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
²⁸ Like a bandit she lies in wait^(Y)
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
³⁰ Those who linger over wine,^(Z)
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
³¹ Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
³² In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
³³ Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
³⁴ You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
³⁵ “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”^(AA)