1Hear, you⌃ children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2For I give you a good gift; forsake you⌃ not my law.

3For I also was a son obedient to my father, and loved in the sight of my mother:

4who spoke and instructed me, saying, Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep our commandments, forget them not:

5and do not neglect the speech of my mouth. ¹⁷

6And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.

8¹⁸Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honor it, that it may embrace you;

9that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.

10Hear, my son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.

11For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right ¹⁹paths.

12For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.

13Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.

14Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.

15In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.

16For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.

17For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.

18But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day ²⁰be fully come.

19But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.

20My son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:

21that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in your heart.

22For they are life to those that find them, and ²¹health to all their flesh.

23Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.

24Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.

25Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent to just things.

26Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.

27Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way: ²²for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked: and he will make your ways straight, and will guide your steps in peace.