The teacher has broken off the narrative about the adulterous woman and the young man as they go off to whatever fate awaits them. He now turns his attention again to warning his students.

“And now, O sons, listen to me”: The Hebrew “And now” marks the beginning of the closing advice and may be rendered by an expression that has that function in the translator’s language. In English note Good News Translation and New International Version “Now then. . ..” In some languages the direct address by itself is the natural way to start: “Children, listen to me!” “O sons” is as in 4.1 and 5.7. “Listen to me” is as in 5.7.

“Be attentive to the words of my mouth”: For “be attentive” refer to 4.1 and for “words of my mouth” see 4.5.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .