8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

9 They are a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

10 My son, if sinful men entice you,

do not give in to them.

11 If they say, “Come along with us;

let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,

let’s ambush some harmless soul;

12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13 we will get all sorts of valuable things

and fill our houses with plunder;

14 cast lots with us;

we will all share the loot”—

15 my son, do not go along with them,

do not set foot on their paths;

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

And forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,

And chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee,

Consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood,

Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave;

And whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance,

We shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us;

Let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them;

Refrain thy foot from their path:

8 My child, listen when your father corrects you.

Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace

and be a chain of honor around your neck.

10 My child, if sinners entice you,

turn your back on them!

11 They may say, “Come and join us.

Let’s hide and kill someone!

Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave;

let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.

13 Think of the great things we’ll get!

We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.

14 Come, throw in your lot with us;

we’ll all share the loot.”

15 My child, don’t go along with them!

Stay far away from their paths.

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father,

And do not forsake the law of your mother;

9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,

And chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

Do not consent.

11 If they say, “Come with us,

Let us lie in wait to shed blood;

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,

And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,

We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14 Cast in your lot among us,

Let us all have one purse”—

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,

Keep your foot from their path;

8 My child, listen to your father’s teaching

and do not forget your mother’s advice.

9 Their teaching will be like flowers in your hair

or a necklace around your neck.

10 My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin,

do not follow them.

11 They will say, “Come with us.

Let’s ambush and kill someone;

let’s attack some innocent people just for fun.

12 Let’s swallow them alive, as death does;

let’s swallow them whole, as the grave does.

13 We will take all kinds of valuable things

and fill our houses with stolen goods.

14 Come join us,

and we will share with you stolen goods.”

15 My child, do not go along with them;

do not do what they do.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

And forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head,

And chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee,

Consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us,

Let us lay wait for blood;

Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol,

And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

13 We shall find all precious substance;

We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14 Thou shalt cast thy lot among us;

We will all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them;

Refrain thy foot from their path:

8 Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother; 9 for they shall be a garland of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those that go down into the pit; 13 we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 cast in thy lot among us; we will all have one purse: 15 —my son, walk not in the way with them, keep back thy foot from their path;

8 My son, 

listen to your father’s discipline, 

and do not neglect your mother’s teachings, 

9 because discipline and teachings 

are a graceful garland on your head 

and a ⸤golden⸥ chain around your neck. 

10 My son, 

if sinners lure you, do not go along. 

11 If they say, 

“Come with us. 

Let’s set an ambush to kill someone. 

Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun. 

12 We’ll swallow them alive like the grave, 

like those in good health who go into the pit. 

13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions. 

We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods. 

14 Join us. 

We’ll split the loot equally.” 

15 My son, 

do not follow them in their way. 

Do not even set foot on their path, 

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

9 for they will be a garland of grace on your head

and a gold chain around your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

don’t be persuaded.

11 If they say—“Come with us!

Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.

Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

12 Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,

still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder.

14 Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share our money” —

15 my son, don’t travel that road with them

or set foot on their path,

8 Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,

and do not reject your mother’s teaching;

9 for they are a fair garland for your head,

and pendants for your neck.

10 My child, if sinners entice you,

do not consent.

11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;

let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive

and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

13 We shall find all kinds of costly things;

we shall fill our houses with booty.

14 Throw in your lot among us;

we will all have one purse”—

15 my child, do not walk in their way,

keep your foot from their paths;

8 My child, may you keep your father’s instruction,

and do not reject your mother’s teachings,

9 for they are a garland of favor for your head,

and pendants for your neck.

10 My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

11 If they say,

“Come with us!

We shall lie in wait for blood;

we shall ambush the innocent without cause.

12 Like Sheol, we will swallow them alive

and whole, like those who descend to the pit.

13 We shall find all precious wealth,

we shall fill our houses with booty,

14 you shall throw your lot in our midst,

there will be one purse for all of us.”

15 My child, do not walk in their way.

Keep your foot from their paths,

8 My son, listen to your father’s advice.

Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching.

9 What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head.

It will be like a chain to decorate your neck.

10 My son, if sinners tempt you,

don’t give in to them.

11 They might say, “Come along with us.

Let’s hide and wait to spill someone’s blood.

Let’s catch some harmless people in our trap.

12 Let’s swallow them alive, as the grave does.

Let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down into the pit.

13 We’ll get all kinds of valuable things.

We’ll fill our houses with what we steal.

14 Come and join our gang.

We’ll share everything we have.”

15 My son, don’t go along with them.

Don’t even set your feet on their paths.

8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction

And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head

And ornaments about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

Do not consent.

11 If they say, “Come with us,

Let us lie in wait for blood,

Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,

Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;

13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth,

We will fill our houses with spoil;

14 Throw in your lot with us,

We shall all have one purse,”

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them.

Keep your feet from their path,