• A Father’s Instruction

  • 1 Listen, my sons, to the instruction of a father, And pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
  • 2 For I give you good teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.
  • 3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
  • 4 He taught me and said to me, “Let your heart take hold of my words; Keep my commandments and live;
  • 5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
  • 6 “Do not abandon her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.
  • 7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
  • 8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.
  • 9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
  • 10 Listen, my son, and accept my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.
  • 11 I have instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
  • 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; And if you run, you will not stumble.
  • 13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
  • 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil people.
  • 15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
  • 16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
  • 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
  • 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
  • 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
  • 20 My son, pay attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
  • 21 They are not to escape from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
  • 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing to all their body.
  • 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
  • 24 Rid yourself of a deceitful mouth And keep devious speech far from you.
  • 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
  • 26 Watch the path of your feet, And all your ways will be established.
  • 27 Do not turn to the right or to the left; Turn your foot from evil.