¹ Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. ² for I give you sound learning.
Don’t forsake my law. ³ For I was a son to my father, ⁴ He taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words. ⁵ Get wisdom.
Don’t forget, and don’t deviate 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.
Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. ⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you. ⁹ She will give to your head a garland of grace.
She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.” ¹⁰ Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. ¹¹ I have taught you in the way of wisdom. 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. 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. ¹⁶ For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. ¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness ¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness. ²⁰ My son, attend to my words. ²¹ Let them not depart from your eyes. ²² For they are life to those who find them, ²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, ²⁴ Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. 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.