1 H ear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

O sons, hear the teaching of a father. Listen so you may get understanding.

2 F or I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

For I give you good teaching. Do not turn away from it.

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

When I was a much loved and only son of my mother and father,

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

he taught me, saying, “Hold my words close to your heart. Keep my teachings and live.

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

Get wisdom and understanding. Do not forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 F orsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Do not leave her alone, and she will keep you safe. Love her, and she will watch over you.

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

The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom! And with all you have gotten, get understanding.

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

Honor her and she will honor you. She will honor you if you hold her to your heart.

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

She will put on your head a crown of loving-favor and beauty.”

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

Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.

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

I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you on the right paths.

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

When you walk, your steps will not be stopped. If you run, you will not trip.

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

Take hold of teaching. Do not let go. Watch over her, for she is your life.

14 E nter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Do not go on the path of the sinful. Do not walk in the way of bad men.

15 A void it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Stay away from it. Do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

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

For they cannot sleep unless they do wrong. They are robbed of sleep unless they make someone fall.

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

For they eat the bread of sin, and drink the wine of wrong-doing.

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

But the way of those who are right is like the early morning light. It shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

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

The way of the sinful is like darkness. They do not know what they trip over.

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

My son, listen to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

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

Do not let them leave your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.

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

For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

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

Keep your heart pure for out of it are the important things of life.

24 P ut away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Put false speaking away from you. Put bad talk far from you.

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

Let your eyes look straight in front of you, and keep looking at what is in front of you.

26 P onder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

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

Do not turn to the right or to the left. Turn your foot away from sin.