Listen to a Father's Instruction

1Hear, my'sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:

2For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.

3For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;

5Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

6Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.

7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

8Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

9She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.

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 paths of uprightness.

12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if 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 walk not in the way of evil men.

15Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.

16For they sleep not, except they do evil; 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 righteous is as the dawning 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.

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 thy 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 wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.

25Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26Make level 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.