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.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.”

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.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding:

Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:

Love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

And with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:

She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:

A crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

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.

5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.

Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.

6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.

Love her, and she will guard you.

7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!

And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.

Embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;

she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

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.

5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!

Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;

Love her, and she will keep you.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing;

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;

She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;

A crown of glory she will deliver to 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.

5 Get wisdom and understanding.

Don’t forget or ignore my words.

6 Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you.

Love it, and it will keep you safe.

7 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom.

If it costs everything you have, get understanding.

8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great;

hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.

9 It will be like flowers in your hair

and like a beautiful crown on your head.”

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;

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee;

Love her, and she will keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom;

Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee;

She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace;

A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.

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. 5 Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee. 7 The beginning of wisdom is, Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee.

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. 

5 Acquire wisdom. 

Acquire understanding. 

Do not forget. 

Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken. 

6 Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you. 

Love wisdom, and it will protect you. 

7 The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. 

Acquire understanding with all that you have. 

8 Cherish wisdom. 

It will raise you up. 

It will bring you honor when you embrace it. 

9 It will give you a graceful garland for your head. 

It will hand you a beautiful crown.” 

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.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;

love her, and she will guard you.

7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.

And whatever else you get, get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9 She will place a garland of grace on your head;

she will give you a crown of beauty.”

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.

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 honor you if you embrace her.

9 She will place on your head a fair garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

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.

5 Get wisdom and insight;

do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;

love her and she will keep you.

7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!

With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

8 Cherish her and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

9 She will give a garland for your head;

she shall bestow a crown of glory upon 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.

5 Get wisdom. Get understanding.

Don’t forget my words. Don’t turn away from them.

6 Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe.

Love her, and she will watch over you.

7 Wisdom is best. So get wisdom.

No matter what it costs, get understanding.

8 Value wisdom, and she will lift you up.

Hold her close, and she will honor you.

9 She will set a beautiful crown on your head.

She will give you a glorious crown.”

3 When I was a son to my father,

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

4 Then he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

Keep my commandments and live;

5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!

Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;

Love her, and she will watch over you.

7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;

And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you;

She will honor you if you embrace her.

9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace;

She will present you with a crown of beauty.”