Hear, ye children
, the instruction
of a father
, and attend
to know
understanding
.
For I give you good
doctrine
, forsake
ye not my law
.
For I was my father's son
, tender
and only
beloved in the sight
of my mother
.
He taught me also, and said
unto me, Let thine heart
retain
my words
: keep
my commandments
, and live
.
Get wisdom
, get
understanding
: forget
it not; neither decline
from the words
of my mouth
.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve
thee: love
her, and she shall keep
thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing
; therefore get
wisdom
: and with all thy getting
get understanding
.
Exalt her, and she shall promote
thee: she shall bring thee to honour
, when thou dost embrace
her.
She shall give to thine head
an ornament
of grace
: a crown
of glory
shall she deliver
to thee.
Hear, O my son
, and receive
my sayings
; and the years
of thy life
shall be many
.
I have taught thee in the way
of wisdom
; I have led
thee in right
paths
.
When thou goest, thy steps
shall not be straitened
; and when thou runnest
, thou shalt not stumble
.
Take fast hold of instruction
; let her not go
: keep
her; for she is thy life
.
Enter not into the path
of the wicked
, and go
not in the way
of evil
men .
Avoid it, pass
not by it, turn
from it, and pass away
.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief
; and their sleep
is taken away
, unless they cause some to fall
.
For they eat the bread
of wickedness
, and drink
the wine
of violence
.
But the path of the just
is as the shining
light
, that shineth
more
and more unto the perfect
day
.
The way of the wicked
is as darkness
: they know
not at what they stumble
.
My son, attend
to my words
; incline
thine ear
unto my sayings
.
Let them not depart from thine eyes
; keep
them in the midst
of thine heart
.
For they are life unto those that find
them, and health
to all their flesh
.
Keep thy heart
with all diligence
; for out of it are the issues
of life
.
Put away from thee a froward
mouth
, and perverse
lips
put far
from thee.
Let thine eyes look
right on
, and let thine eyelids
look straight
before thee.
Ponder the path
of thy feet
, and let all thy ways
be established
.
Turn not to the right hand
nor to the left
: remove
thy foot
from evil
.