1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;

pay attention and gain understanding.

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 of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands, and you will live.

1 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

2 for I give you good precepts;

do not forsake my teaching.

3 When I was a son with my father,

tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

4 he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

keep my commandments, and live.

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,

And attend to know understanding.

2 For I give you good doctrine,

Forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was my father’s son,

Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 He taught me also, and said unto me,

Let thine heart retain my words:

Keep my commandments, and live.

1 My children, listen when your father corrects you.

Pay attention and learn good judgment,

2 for I am giving you good guidance.

Don’t turn away from my instructions.

3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,

tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

4 My father taught me,

“Take my words to heart.

Follow my commands, and you will live.

1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,

And give attention to know understanding;

2 For I give you good doctrine:

Do not forsake my law.

3 When I was my father’s son,

Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,

4 He also taught me, and said to me:

“Let your heart retain my words;

Keep my commands, and live.

1 My children, listen to your father’s teaching;

pay attention so you will understand.

2 What I am telling you is good,

so do not forget what I teach you.

3 When I was a young boy in my father’s house

and like an only child to my mother,

4 my father taught me and said,

“Hold on to my words with all your heart.

Keep my commands and you will live.

1 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father,

And attend to know understanding:

2 For I give you good doctrine;

Forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was a son unto my father,

Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 And he taught me, and said unto me:

Let thy heart retain my words;

Keep my commandments, and live;

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence; 2 for I give you good doctrine: forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother. 4 And he taught me, and said unto me, Let thy heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live.

1 Sons, 

listen to ⸤your⸥ father’s discipline, 

and pay attention in order to gain understanding. 

2 After all, I have taught you well. 

Do not abandon my teachings. 

3 When I was a boy ⸤learning⸥ from my father, 

when I was a tender and only child of my mother, 

4 they used to teach me and say to me, 

“Cling to my words wholeheartedly. 

Obey my commands so that you may live. 

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline,

and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

2 for I am giving you good instruction.

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.

1 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain 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 favorite,

4 he taught me, and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

keep my commandments, and live.

1 Children, listen to the instruction of a father,

and be attentive in order to know insight.

2 For I have given you good instruction;

do not forsake my teaching.

3 When I was a son to my father,

tender and alone before my mother,

4 he taught me and said to me,

“May your heart hold fast to my words;

guard my commandments and live.

1 My children, listen to a father’s teaching.

Pay attention and gain understanding.

2 I give you good advice.

So don’t turn away from what I teach you.

3 I was once a young boy in my father’s house.

I was my mother’s only child.

4 My father taught me.

He said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart.

Keep my commands. Then you will live.