4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline,^(A)
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
² for I am giving you good instruction.^(B)
Don’t abandon my teaching.
³ When I was a son with my father,
tender and precious to my mother,
⁴ he taught me and said:
“Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live.^(C)

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.^(A)
21 Always bind them to your heart;
tie them around your neck.^(B)
22 When you walk here and there, they will guide you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
when you wake up, they will talk to you.
²³ For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,^(C)
and corrective discipline is the way to life.^(D)