Listen to a Father's Instruction

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

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

3For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.

4And he directeth me, and he saith to me: ‘Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.

5Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.

6Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.

7The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.

8Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.

9She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.

10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.

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

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

13Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.

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

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

16For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.

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

18And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,

19The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.

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

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

22For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.

23Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.

24Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,

25Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.

27Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!