1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,
2For I give you good doctrine,
3For I was my father’s son,
4He taught me also, and said unto me,
5Get wisdom, get understanding:
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go:
14Enter not into the path of the wicked,
15Avoid it, pass not by it,
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief;
17For they eat the bread of wickedness,
18But the path of the just is as the shining light,
19The way of the wicked is as darkness:
20My son, attend to my words;
21Let them not depart from thine eyes;
22For they are life unto those that find them,
23Keep thy heart with all diligence;
24Put away from thee a froward mouth,
25Let thine eyes look right on,
26Ponder the path of thy feet,
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: