1 Listen, sons, to a father's discipline, and give heed so as to gain understanding;
2 for I am giving you sound learning; do not abandon my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one before my mother,
4 he taught me and told me, "Let your heart hold on to my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget, and do not swerve from the sayings of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: acquire wisdom, and with all your acquiring, acquire understanding.
8 Hold her high, and she will lift you up; she will bring you honor when you embrace her.
9 She will set a graceful wreath on your head; she will present you with a crown of splendor."
10 Listen, my son, and accept my sayings, and the years of your life will multiply.
11 In the way of wisdom I have instructed you; I have guided you along straight tracks.
12 As you walk, your stride will not be cramped, and if you run, you will not trip.
13 Grip discipline and do not let it go; keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked, and do not go along the way of evildoers.
15 Shun it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on past.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they bring someone down.
17 For they feed on the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like thick darkness; they do not know what trips them up.
20 My son, attend to my words; turn your ear to what I say.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them deep within your heart.
22 For they are life to whoever finds them, and health to his whole body.
23 More than anything you guard, keep watch over your heart, for from it are the outflowings of life.
24 Remove from yourself a twisted mouth, and keep crooked lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight forward, and your eyelids gaze right before you.
26 Weigh carefully the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot away from evil.