A Father’s Wise Instruction
aHear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may bgain insight,
2 for I give you good aprecepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
atender, bthe only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he ataught me and said to me,
b“Let your heart hold fast my words;
ckeep my commandments, and live.
5 aGet wisdom; get binsight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
alove her, and she will guard you.
7 aThe beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get binsight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will ahonor you bif you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head aa graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10 aHear, bmy son, and accept my words,
that cthe years of your life may be many.
11 I have ataught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, ayour step will not be hampered,
and bif you run, you will not stumble.
13 aKeep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your blife.
14 aDo not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they acannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
aand drink the wine of violence.
18 But athe path of the righteous is like bthe light of dawn,
which shines cbrighter and brighter until dfull day.
19 aThe way of the wicked is like deep bdarkness;
they do not know over what they cstumble.
20 aMy son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 aLet them not escape from your sight;
bkeep them within your heart.
22 For they are alife to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for afrom it flow bthe springs of life.
24 Put away from you acrooked speech,
and put bdevious talk far from you.
25 aLet your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 aPonder the path of your feet;
bthen all your ways will be sure.
27 aDo not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.