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¹ Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, || And give attention to know understanding.² For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.³ For I have been a son to my father—tender, || And an only one before my mother.⁴ And he directs me, and he says to me: "Let your heart retain my words, || Keep my commands, and live.⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding, || Do not forget, nor turn away || From the sayings of my mouth.⁶ Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, || Love her, and she keeps you.⁷ The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, || And with all your getting get understanding.⁸ Exalt her and she lifts you up, || She honors you when you embrace her.⁹ She gives a wreath of grace to your head, || She gives you a crown of beauty freely."¹⁰ Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, || And years of life [are] multiplied to you.¹¹ I have directed you in a way of wisdom, || I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.¹² In your walking your step is not restricted, || And if you run, you do not stumble.¹³ Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, || Keep her, for she [is] your life.

¹⁴ Do not enter into the path of the wicked, || And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.¹⁵ Avoid it, do not pass over into it, || Turn aside from it, and pass on.¹⁶ For they do not sleep if they do no evil, || And their sleep has been taken away violently, || If they do not cause [some] to stumble.¹⁷ For they have eaten bread of wickedness, || And they drink wine of violence.¹⁸ And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, || Going and brightening until the day is established,¹⁹ The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, || They have not known at what they stumble.

²⁰ My son, give attention to my words, || Incline your ear to my sayings,²¹ Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, || Preserve them in the midst of your heart.²² For they [are] life to those finding them, || And healing to all their flesh.²³ Above every charge keep your heart, || For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.²⁴ Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, || And put perverse lips far from you,²⁵ Your eyes look straightforward, || And your eyelids look straight before you.²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet, || And all your ways [are] established.²⁷ Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, || Turn aside your foot from evil!