1 H ear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.

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

2 F or good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.

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

3 F or, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother.

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

4 A nd he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.

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

5 G et wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings 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 doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.

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

7 T he first thing wisdom -- 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 doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, 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 giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.

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

10 H ear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life multiplied to thee.

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

11 I n a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.

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

12 I n thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.

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

13 L ay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she thy life.

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

14 I nto the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.

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

15 A void it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.

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

16 F or they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not to stumble.

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

17 F or they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.

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

18 A nd the path of the righteous as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,

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 as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.

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

20 M y son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,

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

21 L et them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.

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

22 F or life they to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.

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

23 A bove every charge keep thy heart, For out of it the outgoings of life.

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

24 T urn aside 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 T hine eyes do look straightforward, And 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 thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways established.

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

27 I ncline not the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!

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