A Father’s Instruction

1Hear, my sons, the discipline of a father,

and pay attention to know understanding.

2For good teaching I have given to you⁺;

do not forsake my instruction.

3For I was a son to my father,

tender and the only one before the face of my mother,

4and he instructed me and said to me,

“Let your heart take hold of my words;

keep my commands, and live.

5Acquire wisdom; acquire understanding!

Do not forget and do not bend away from the words of my mouth.

6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;

love her, and she will guard you.

The first thing is wisdom; acquire wisdom,

and in all your acquiring,† acquire understanding.

8Lift her up, and she will exalt you;

she will bring you honor when you embrace her.

9She will give to your head a wreath of grace;

a crown of beauty she will deliver to you.”

10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,

and the years of life will be multiplied for you.

11In the way of wisdom I have instructed you;

I have made you step in paths of uprightness.

12In your walking, your steps will not be restricted;

and when you run, you will not stumble.

13Hold on to instruction; do not let go;

Guard her, for she is your life.

14Do not enter into the path of the wicked ones,

and do not walk in the way of evil ones.

15Avoid it! Do not pass onto it;

turn aside from it and pass by.

16For they cannot sleep

if they have not done evil;

and their sleep is stolen

if they do not they cause stumbling.

17Indeed, they eat the bread of wickedness;

they drink the wine of violence.

18But the path of the righteous is like the light of brightness,

and shining and going forth,

until the day is established.

19The way of the wicked is like the darkness—

they do not know over what they stumble.

20My son, pay attention to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

21Do not let them depart from your eyes—

keep them in the midst of your heart.

22For they are life to those finding them,

and to all his flesh healing.

23With all diligence, guard your heart,

for from it are the outgoings of life.

24Turn away from you the crookedness of the mouth,

and perverse lips put far from you.

25Your eyes should look forward,

and your eyelids keep straight before you.

26Make level the path for your feet,†

and all your ways shall be established.

27Do not bend away to the right or the left;

turn aside your foot from evil.