1Hear,
ye children,
the instruction
of a father,
and attend
to know
understanding.
2For
I give you
good doctrine,
forsake ye not
my law.
3For
I was my father's son,
tender
and only beloved
in the sight
of my mother.
4He
taught me also,
and said
unto me,
Let thine heart
retain my words:
keep
my commandments, and
live.
5Get wisdom,
get understanding:
forget it not;
neither decline
from the words
of my mouth.
6Forsake her not,
and she
shall preserve thee:
love her, and
she shall
keep thee.
7Wisdom
is the principal thing;
therefore
get wisdom: and
with all thy getting
get understanding.
8Exalt her, and
she shall
promote thee:
she shall
bring thee to honour,
when thou
dost embrace her.
9She shall
give
to thine head
an ornament
of grace:
a crown of glory
shall she deliver
to thee.
10Hear,
O my son, and
receive my sayings;
and the years
of thy life
shall be many.
11I
have taught thee
in the way
of wisdom;
I have led
thee
in right paths.
12When thou goest,
thy steps
shall not
be straitened; and
when thou runnest,
thou shalt
not stumble.
13Take fast hold
of instruction;
let her not go:
keep her;
for she is
thy life.
14Enter not
into the path
of the wicked, and
go not
in the way
of evil men.
15Avoid it,
pass not by it,
turn from it, and
pass away.
16For they sleep not,
except they
have done mischief; and
their sleep
is taken away,
unless they cause
some to fall.
17For
they eat the bread
of wickedness, and
drink the wine
of violence.
18But the path
of the just
is as the shining light,
that shineth
more and more
unto the perfect day.
19The way
of the wicked
is as darkness:
they know not
at what they stumble.
20My son,
attend to my words;
incline thine ear
unto my sayings.
21Let them not
depart from thine eyes;
keep them
in the midst
of thine heart.
22For
they are life
unto those
that find them,
and health
to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart
with all diligence;
for out of it
are the issues
of life.
24Put away
from thee
a froward mouth,
and perverse lips
put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes
look right on, and
let thine eyelids
look straight before
thee.
26Ponder
the path
of thy feet, and
let all thy ways
be established.
27Turn not
to the right hand
nor to the left:
remove thy foot
from evil.