Her father said, “I really thought ¹  you absolutely despised ²  her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is more attractive than she is. Take her instead!” ³ 

(My little children, ¹  I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. ² ) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate ³  with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, ⁴ 

Then the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? ¹ 

While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord, or else I will die!

If a man denounces his friends for personal gain, ¹  the eyes of his children will fail.

“For you took pledges ¹  from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked. ² 

Listen, ¹  my child, ²  to the instruction ³  from ⁴  your father, and do not forsake the teaching ⁵  from ⁶  your mother.

My child, do not go down ¹  their way, ²  withhold yourself ³  from their path; ⁴ 

For wisdom will enter your heart, ¹  and moral knowledge ²  will be attractive ³  to you. ⁴ 

My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord, ¹  and do not loathe ²  his rebuke.

for one who goes astray ¹  is an abomination ²  to the Lord, but he reveals ³  his intimate counsel ⁴  to the upright.

Listen, my child, ¹  and accept my words, so that ²  the years of your life will be many. ³ 

So now, children, ¹  listen to me; do not turn aside from the words I speak. ² 

My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

My child, ²  keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. ³ 

Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, ¹  so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens. ² 

Don’t set foot too frequently ¹  in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary ²  of you and hate you.

Like cold water to a weary person, ¹  so is good news from a distant land. ² 

so is a person ¹  who deceives his neighbor, and says, “Was I not only joking?” ² 

The one who hates others disguises ¹  it with his lips, but he stores up ²  deceit within him. ³