| 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. She will deliver a crown of splendor 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 straight paths. |
| 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. |
