1 HEAR, O my children, the instruction of a father, and give ear to knowledge and understanding.

2 Because I give you good doctrine, do not forsake my law.

3 For I was also a son to my father, tender and the only begotten in the sight of my mother.

4 He taught me, and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live; and let my law be as the pupil of the eye.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; and turn not aside from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will save you.

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

8 Love her, and she shall exalt you; embrace her, and she shall honor you.

9 She shall put upon your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she bestow upon you.

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

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

12 When you walk, your steps will not be unsteady; and when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of my instruction, and do not forsake her; keep her, for she is your life.

14 Do not walk in the way of evil men, and do not envy the way of the wicked.

15 The place where they dwell, do not pass by it, turn away from it,

16 For they do not sleep until they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away until their evil devices are carried out.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous is like the shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know at what they stumble.

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

21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; but keep them in the midst of your heart.

22 For they are life to him who finds them, and health to all his flesh.

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

24 Put away from you a perverse mouth, and the counsel of deceit put far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight forward, and let your eyelids look straight before you.

26 Keep your feet away from evil paths; then all your ways shall be firm.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; but remove your foot from evil.