Listen, children, ²  to a father’s instruction, ³  and pay attention so that ⁴  you may gain ⁵  discernment.

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

Keep my commands ¹  so that you may live, ²  and obey ³  my instruction as your most prized possession. ⁴ 

The one who heeds instruction ¹  is on the way to ²  life, but the one who rejects ³  rebuke goes astray.

Instruction ¹  from the wise ²  is like ³  a life-giving fountain, ⁴  to turn ⁵  a person ⁶  from deadly snares. ⁷ 

Incline your ear ²  and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. ³ 

When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; ¹  I received instruction from what I saw: ² 

The people of those nations ¹  are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless! ² 

Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches ¹  it.

Fathers, ¹  do not provoke your children to anger, ²  but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Such women are always seeking instruction, ¹  yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

Preach the message, ¹  be ready ²  whether it is convenient or not, ³  reprove, rebuke, exhort ⁴  with complete patience and instruction.

For the commandments ¹  are like ²  a lamp, ³  instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like ⁴  the road leading to life, ⁵ 

Give instruction ¹  to a wise person, ²  and he will become wiser still; teach ³  a righteous person and he will add to his ⁴  learning.

Disaster after disaster will come, and one rumor after another. They will seek a vision from a prophet; priestly instruction will disappear, along with counsel from the elders.

Then the Jewish leaders ¹  were astonished ²  and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” ³ 

For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.

These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.

But the aim of our instruction ¹  is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. ²