A Father's Wise Instruction

1Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain4:1 Hebrew know insight,

2for I give you good precepts;

do not forsake my teaching.

3When I was a son with my father,

tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

4he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

keep my commandments, and live.

5Get wisdom; get insight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;

love her, and she will guard you.

7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,

and whatever you get, get insight.

8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;

she will honour you if you embrace her.

9She will place on your head a graceful garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

10Hear, my son, and accept my words,

that the years of your life may be many.

11I have taught you the way of wisdom;

I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

12When you walk, your step will not be hampered,

and if you run, you will not stumble.

13Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;

guard her, for she is your life.

14Do not enter the path of the wicked,

and do not walk in the way of the evil.

15Avoid it; do not go on it;

turn away from it and pass on.

16For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;

they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.

17For they eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know over what they stumble.

20My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

21Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart.

22For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their4:22 Hebrew his flesh.

23Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.

24Put away from you crooked speech,

and put devious talk far from you.

25Let your eyes look directly forwards,

and your gaze be straight before you.

26Ponder4:26 Or Make level the path of your feet;

then all your ways will be sure.

27Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.