| 1 | Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; | |
| 2 | For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. | |
| 3 | When I was my father's son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, | |
| 4 | He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. | |
| 5 | Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | |
| 6 | Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. | |
| 7 | Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | |
| 8 | Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. | |
| 9 | She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you." | |
| 10 | Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | |
| 11 | I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | |
| 12 | When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. | |
| 13 | Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. | |
| 14 | Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. | |
| 15 | Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. | |
| 16 | For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. | |
| 17 | For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. | |
| 18 | But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. | |
| 19 | The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. | |
| 20 | My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. | |
| 21 | Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; | |
| 22 | For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. | |
| 23 | Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | |
| 24 | Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | |
| 25 | Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | |
| 26 | Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | |
| 27 | Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. | |