^8 (A)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
⁹ for they are ^(B)a graceful garland for your head
    and ^(C)pendants for your neck.

4 ^(A)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may ^(B)gain^[a] insight,
² for I give you good ^(C)precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
³ When I was a son with my father,
    ^(D)tender, ^(E)the only one in the sight of my mother,
⁴ he ^(F)taught me and said to me,
^(G)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    ^(H)keep my commandments, and live.

^20 (A)A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.