1 Heare, O ye children, the instruction of a father, and giue eare to learne vnderstanding. 2 For I doe giue you a good doctrine: therefore forsake yee not my lawe. 3 For I was my fathers sonne, tender and deare in the sight of my mother, 4 When he taught me, and sayde vnto me, Let thine heart holde fast my woordes: keepe my commandements, and thou shalt liue. 5 Get wisedom: get vnderstading: forget not, neither decline from the woordes of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and shee shall keepe thee: loue her and shee shall preserue thee. 7 Wisedome is the beginning: get wisedome therefore: and aboue all thy possession get vnderstanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall exalt thee: she shall bring thee to honour, if thou embrace her. 9 She shall giue a comely ornamet vnto thine head, yea, she shall giue thee a crowne of glorie. 10 Heare, my sonne, and receiue my wordes, and the yeeres of thy life shalbe many. 11 I haue taught thee in ye way of wisedom, and led thee in the pathes of righteousnesse. 12 Whe thou goest, thy gate shall not be strait, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall. 13 Take holde of instruction, and leaue not: keepe her, for shee is thy life. 14 Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walke not in the way of euill men. 15 Auoide it, and goe not by it: turne from it, and passe by. 16 For they can not sleepe, except they haue done euill, and their sleepe departeth except they cause some to fall. 17 For they eate the breade of wickednesse, and drinke the wine of violence. 18 But the way of the righteous shineth as the light, that shineth more and more vnto the perfite day. 19 The way of the wicked is as the darkenes: they knowe not wherein they shall fall. 20 My sonne, hearken vnto my wordes, incline thine eare vnto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keepe them in the middes of thine heart. 22 For they are life vnto those that find them, and health vnto all their flesh. 23 Keepe thine heart with all diligence: for thereout commeth life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put wicked lippes farre from thee. 25 Let thine eyes beholde the right, and let thine eyelids direct thy way before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feete, and let all thy waies be ordred aright. 27 Turne not to the right hande, nor to the left, but remooue thy foote from euill.
The Benefits of Wisdom
1 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. 2 What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. 3 When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son, 4 my father would teach me. He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. 6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. 7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. 8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor. 9 She will be your crowning glory.”
10 Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life. 11 I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live. 12 Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. 13 Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life—guard it well. 14 Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. 15 Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way. 16 Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone. 17 Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
18 The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. 19 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words. 21 Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. 22 They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. 23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 24 Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. 25 Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame. 26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.