1. Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and give heed to know understanding.
2. For I give you good instruction; do not forsake my law.
3. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4. He taught me also, and said to me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither turn aside from the words of my mouth.
6. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.
7. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.
8. Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9. She shall give to your head an ornament of beauty: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.
10. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.
11. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
12. When you go, your steps shall not be in difficulty; and when you run, you shall not stumble.
13. Take firm hold of instruction; do not let her go: keep her; for she is your life.
14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16. For they do not sleep, unless they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause someone to fall.
17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18. But the path of the righteous is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
19. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20. My son, attend to my words; turn your ear to my sayings.
21. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the outcomes of life.
24. Put away from you a stubborn mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.
25. Let your eyes look ahead, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
26. Consider the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
27. Do not turn to the right hand or to the left: remove your foot from evil.
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