¹Hear, you2f children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

²For I give you good doctrine, forsake you2f not my law.

³For I was my father’s son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother.

⁴He taught me also, and said unto me, Let youi heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

⁵Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

⁶Forsake her not, and she shall preserve youi : love her, and she shall keep youi .

⁷Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all youi getting get understanding.

⁸Exalt her, and she shall promote youi : she shall bring youi to honour, when youi do embrace her.

⁹She shall give to youi head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to youi .

¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of youi life shall be many.

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

¹²When youi go, youri steps shall not be straitened (impeded or restricted; narrowed, distressed); and when youi run, youi shall not stumble.

¹³Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] youri life.

¹⁴Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men] .

¹⁵Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

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

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

¹⁸But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.

¹⁹The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline youi ear unto my sayings.

²¹Let them not depart from youi eyes; keep them in the midst of youi heart.

²²For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

²³Keep youi heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.

²⁴Put away from youi a perverse (twisted) [habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition] mouth, and perverse lips put far from youi .

²⁵Let youi eyes look right on, and let youi eyelids look straight before youi .

²⁶Ponder the path of youi feet, and let all youi ways be established.

²⁷Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove youi foot from evil.