1 H ear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;

Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,

2 F or I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.

For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.

3 W hen I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,

When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

4 H e also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.

Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;

5 G et wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 D o not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.

“Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.

7 W isdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

“ The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

8 E xalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

“ Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.

9 S he will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

“She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

10 H ear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.

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

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

I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.

12 W hen you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.

13 T ake firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.

Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.

14 D o not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.

Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.

15 A void it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.

Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.

16 F or they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.

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 just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.

19 T he way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

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

20 M y son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.

21 D o not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;

Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.

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

For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.

23 K eep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

24 P ut away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.

Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.

25 L et your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.

Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.

26 P onder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.

Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.

27 D o not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.