12. Give yourselves to disciplined instruction;open your ears to tested knowledge.
13-14. Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones;a spanking won’t kill them.A good spanking, in fact, might save themfrom something worse than death.
15-16. Dear child, if you become wise,I’ll be one happy parent.My heart will dance and singto the tuneful truth you’ll speak.
17-18. Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels;soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—That’s where your future lies.Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing.
19-21. Oh listen, dear child—become wise;point your life in the right direction.Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk;don’t eat too much food and get fat.Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row,in a stupor and dressed in rags.
22-25. Listen with respect to the father who raised you,and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her.Buy truth—don’t sell it for love or money;buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.Parents rejoice when their children turn out well;wise children become proud parents.So make your father happy!Make your mother proud!
26. Dear child, I want your full attention;please do what I show you.