Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding,
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin,
To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,
“Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.
A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.