1 H ear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.

2 F or good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.

3 F or, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother.

4 A nd he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.

5 G et wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.

6 F orsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.

7 T he first thing wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.

8 E xalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.

9 S he giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.

10 H ear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life multiplied to thee.

11 I n a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.

12 I n thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.

13 L ay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she thy life.

14 I nto the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.

15 A void it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.

16 F or they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not to stumble.

17 F or they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.

18 A nd the path of the righteous as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,

19 T he way of the wicked as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.

20 M y son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,

21 L et them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.

22 F or life they to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.

23 A bove every charge keep thy heart, For out of it the outgoings of life.

24 T urn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,

25 T hine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 P onder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways established.

27 I ncline not the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!