1: Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding; 2: For I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law. 3: For I was a son to my father, Tender and an only child in the sight of my mother. 4: 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 swerve 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 supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. 8: Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her. 9: She will give to your head a garland of grace. A crown of splendor will she deliver to you." 10: Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. 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 hampered. When you run, you will not stumble. 13: Take firm 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. Don't walk in the way of evil men. 15: Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on. 16: For they don't sleep, unless they do evil. 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 righteous is like the dawning light, That shines more and more until the perfect day. 19: The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don't know what they stumble over. 20: My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. 21: Let them not 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 their whole body. 23: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it is the wellspring of life. 24: Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you. 25: Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you. 26: Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established. 27: Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
