1Hear , ye children , the instruction of a father , and attend to know understanding . 2For I give you good doctrine , forsake ye not my law . 3For I was my father’s son , tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother . 4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words : keep my commandments , and live . 5Get wisdom , get understanding : forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth . 6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7Wisdom is the principal thing ; therefore get wisdom : and with all thy getting get understanding . 8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour , when thou dost embrace her. 9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace : a crown of glory shall 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 right paths . 12When thou goest , thy steps shall not be straitened ; and when 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 go not in the way of evil men . 15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away . 16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief ; 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 just is as the shining 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 thine 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 froward mouth , and perverse lips put far from thee. 25Let thine eyes look right on , and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26Ponder 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 .