[1] Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: [2] For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law. [3] For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. [4] And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; [5] Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; [6] Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. [7] Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. [8] Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. [9] She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee. [10] Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many. [11] I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness. [12] When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. [13] Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life. [14] Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men. [15] Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on. [16] For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. [17] For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. [18] But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. [19] The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. [20] My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. [21] Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. [22] For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. [23] Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. [24] Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee. [25] Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. [26] Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. [27] Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.
