4  to give prudence to ^cthe simple,

knowledge and ^ddiscretion to the youth—

21  My son, ^hdo not lose sight of these—

keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22  and they will be ⁱlife for your soul

and ^jadornment for your neck.

23  ^kThen you will walk on your way securely,

^land your foot will not stumble.

24  ^mIf you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, ⁿyour sleep will be sweet.

25  ^oDo not be afraid of sudden terror

or of ^pthe ruin¹ of the wicked, when it comes,

26  for the Lord will be your confidence

and will ^qkeep your foot from being caught.

4  ^fHear, O sons, a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may ^ggain¹ insight,

2  for I give you good ^hprecepts;

do not forsake my teaching.

3  When I was a son with my father,

ⁱtender, ^jthe only one in the sight of my mother,

4  he ^ktaught me and said to me,

^l“Let your heart hold fast my words;

^mkeep my commandments, and live.

5  ⁿGet wisdom; get ^ginsight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

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

^olove her, and she will guard you.

7  ^pThe beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,

and whatever you get, get ^ginsight.

5  ^wMy son, be attentive to my wisdom;

^xincline your ear to my understanding,

2  that you may keep ^ydiscretion,

and your lips may ^zguard knowledge.

9  ^vWisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her ^wseven ^xpillars.

2  She has ^yslaughtered her beasts; she has ^zmixed her wine;

she has also ^aset her table.

3  She has ^bsent out her young women to ^ccall

from ^dthe highest places in the town,

4  ^e“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

^fTo him who lacks sense she says,

5  “Come, ^geat of my bread

and ^hdrink of ^zthe wine I have mixed.

6  Leave ⁱyour simple ways,¹ and ^jlive,

^kand walk in the way of insight.”

10  ^pThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and ^qthe knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

8  The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

but the folly of fools is deceiving.

15  ^zThe simple believes everything,

but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

5  The plans of ^ethe diligent lead surely to abundance,

but everyone who is ^fhasty comes ^gonly to poverty.

3  ^sThe prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

23  ^eBuy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

12  ⁿThe prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but ^othe simple go on and suffer for it.