For you have said, ‘My teaching ¹  is flawless, and I am pure in your sight.’

My child, ²  do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep ³  my commandments,

Because I give ¹  you good instruction, ²  do not forsake my teaching.

The teaching ¹  of the righteous feeds ²  many, but fools die ³  for lack of wisdom. ⁴ 

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

The teaching ¹  of the righteous is a fountain of life, ²  but the speech ³  of the wicked conceals ⁴  violence. ⁵ 

My teaching will drop like the rain, my sayings will drip like the dew, ¹  as rain drops upon the grass, and showers upon new growth.

Now Ezra had dedicated himself ¹  to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching ²  its statutes and judgments in Israel.

Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah – all of whom were Levites ¹  – were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing.

Your priests ¹  did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ ²  Those responsible for teaching my law ³  did not really know me. ⁴  Your rulers rebelled against me. Your prophets prophesied in the name of the god Baal. ⁵  They all worshiped idols that could not help them. ⁶