• 1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

  • 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.

  • 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

  • 4 He taught me also, and said to me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

  • 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

  • 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.

  • 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.

  • 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.

  • 9 She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.

  • 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.

  • 11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.

  • 12 When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

  • 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.

  • 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

  • 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

  • 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; 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 just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to 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 your ear to my sayings.

  • 21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.

  • 22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

  • 23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

  • 24 Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.

  • 25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.

  • 26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

  • 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.