1 H ear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2 F or I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

3 F or I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 A nd he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

5 G et wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 F orsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 W isdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8 E xalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 S he will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

10 H ear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.

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

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

12 W hen thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 T ake fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

14 E nter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15 A void it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16 F or they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 F or they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

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

18 B ut the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 T he way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

20 M y son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 L et them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 F or they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 K eep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 P ut away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 L et thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 M ake level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 T urn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.