1Listen, O sons, to the teaching of a father, and pay attention in order to learn understanding,
2for I give good teaching to you all; do not abandon my instruction.
3When I was a son with my father, a tender and only son in the sight of my mother,
4he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold on to my words, keep my commandments and live.
5Get Wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not abandon her and she will watch over you, love her and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is the principal thing, so get Wisdom;a and with all your purchases, purchase understanding.
8Exalt her and she will lift you up; she will honor you because you embrace her.
9She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a beautiful crown.”
10Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11On the road of Wisdom I teach you; I lead you on the upright paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to my teaching, do not let her go. Guard her because she is your life.
14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed on the road of the evil ones.
15Disregard it; do not pass upon it. Turn away from it and pass on by.
16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil, and their sleep is stolen unless they cause another to stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining ever brighter until the full light of day.
19The road of the wicked is like the gloomy darkness; they do not know what they are stumbling over.
20My son, pay attention to my words, incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from before your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22For they are life to the ones discovering them, and health to a person’s whole body.
23More than anything else you protect, guard your heart, because from it flow the issues of life.
24Put away from you a crooked mouth, and put deceitful lips far away from you.
25Focus your eyes in front of you, and let your eyelids look straight ahead of you.
26Carefully weigh the path of your feet, and let all your roads be established.
27Do not turn to the right or to the left; keep your foot away from evil.
REV Bible
