1Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2For I give you good doctrine. Forsake ye not my law. 3For I was a son to my father, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4And he taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding. Do not forget, nor decline from the words of my mouth. 6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve thee. Love her, and she will keep thee. 7Wisdom is the principal thing. Get wisdom, yea, with all thy getting get understanding. 8Exalt her, and she will promote thee. She will bring thee to honor when thou embrace her. 9She will give to thy head a garland of grace, a crown of beauty she will deliver to thee. 10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many. 11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom. I have led thee in paths of uprightness. 12When thou go, thy steps shall not be restricted. And if thou run, thou shall not stumble. 13Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is thy life. 14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men. 15Avoid it. Do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on. 16For they do not sleep unless they do evil. And their sleep is taken away unless they cause to fall. 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shines more and more to 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 thine ear to my sayings. 21Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thy heart. 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 24Put away from thee a wayward mouth, and put perverse lips far from thee. 25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26Make the path of thy feet level, and let all thy ways be established. 27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. Remove thy foot from evil.