Chapter 5 continues a collection of proverbs that ends in chapter nine. The writer speaks as a father teaching his children. Occasionally, the author addresses a proverb to "my son." This is not intended to restrict the words of that proverb to only males. Instead, it is simply a form used to pass on advice as a father does to his son
"listen attentively". The writer speaks of listening attentively to someone as if it were leaning forward so that the ears are closer to the one speaking. See Proverbs 4:20.