1Hear , my sons , the instruction of a father , And attend to know understanding : 2For I give you good doctrine ; Forsake ye not my law . 3For I was a son unto my father , Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4And he taught me , and said unto me : Let thy heart retain my words ; Keep my commandments , and live ; 5Get wisdom , get understanding; Forget not , neither decline from the words of my mouth ; 6Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee ; Love her , and she will keep thee . 7Wisdom is the principal thing ; therefore get wisdom ; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. 8Exalt her , and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor , when thou dost embrace her . 9She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace ; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee .
The Path of the Righteous vs. the Path of the Wicked
10Hear , O my son , and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many . 11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom ; I have led thee in paths of uprightness . 12When thou goest , thy steps shall not be straitened ; And if thou runnest , thou shalt not stumble . 13Take fast hold of instruction ; let her not go : Keep her ; for she is thy life . 14Enter not into the path of the wicked , And walk not in the way of evil men . 15Avoid it , pass not by it ; Turn from it , and pass on . 16For they sleep not , except they do evil ; And their sleep is taken away , unless they cause some to fall . 17For they eat the bread of wickedness , And drink the wine of violence . 18But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light , That shineth more and more unto the perfect day . 19The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble .
Guarding Your Heart
20My son , attend to my words ; Incline thine ear unto my sayings . 21Let them not depart from thine eyes ; Keep them in the midst of thy heart . 22For they are life unto those that find them , And health to all their flesh . 23Keep thy heart with all diligence ; For out of it are the issues of life . 24Put away from thee a wayward mouth , And perverse lips put far from thee. 25Let thine eyes look right on , And let thine eyelids look straight before thee . 26Make level the path of thy feet , And let all thy ways be established . 27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left : Remove thy foot from evil .