My child, ²  be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention ³  to my understanding,

biblegateway Pro 5:1

My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding;

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen closely to my understanding

My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Open your ears to my understanding

biblegateway Pro 5:1

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight,

My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,

bibleoremus Pro 5:1

My child, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,

“My son, attend to my wisdom and listen with care to my counsel,

biblegateway Pro 5:1

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding,

My son, attend unto my wisdom, [and] bow thine ear to my understanding:

biblegateway Pro 5:1

My child, ²  be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention ³  to my understanding,

¹ sn In this chapter the sage/father exhorts discretion (1, 2) then explains how to avoid seduction (3-6); this is followed by a second exhortation to prevention (7, 8) and an explanation that obedience will avoid ruin and regret (9-14); finally, he warns against sharing love with strangers (15-17) but to find it at home (18-23). For an analysis of the chapter, see J. E. Goldingay, “Proverbs V and IX,” RB 84 (1977): 80-93.

² tn The text again has “my son.” In this passage perhaps “son” would be the most fitting because of the warning against going to the adulterous woman. However, since the image of the adulterous woman probably represents all kinds of folly (through personification), and since even in this particular folly the temptation works both ways, the general address to either young men or women should be retained. The text was certainly not intended to convey that only women could seduce men.

³ tn Heb “incline your ear” (so NAB, NRSV); NLT “listen carefully.”