1 Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:

2 For I give you{+} good doctrine; Don't forsake{+} my law.

3 For I was a son to my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 And he taught me, and said to me: Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Don't forget, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

6 Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.

7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom; Yes, with all your getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.

9 She will give to your head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty she will deliver to you.

10 Hear, O 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 paths of uprightness.

12 When you go, your steps will not be straitened; And if you run, you will not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; don't let her go: Keep her; for she is your life.

14 Don't enter into the path of the wicked, And don't walk in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, don't pass by it; Turn from it, and pass on.

16 For they don't sleep, 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 shines more and more to the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They don't know at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Don't 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 are the issues of life.

24 Put away from you a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from you.

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

26 Make level the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.

27 Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left: Remove your foot from evil.