1Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
2For I give you good doctrine; Do not forsake my law.
3For I was a son to my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4And he taught me, and said to me: Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;
5Get wisdom, get understanding; Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth;
6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yes, with all your getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9She will give to your head a garland of grace; A crown of beauty she will deliver to you.
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of your life shall be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in paths of uprightness.
12When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered; And if you run, you shall not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction; do not let her go: Keep her; for she is your life.
14Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
16For they do not sleep, unless they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shines more and more to the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: They do not know at what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23Keep your heart with all diligence; For out of it are the springs of life.
24Put away from you a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead, And let your eyelids look straight before you.
26Make level the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
27Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left: Remove your foot from evil.