¹⁹ Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!

¹⁰ Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

¹¹ I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.

¹² When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

¹⁴ Don't enter into the path of the wicked. Don't walk in the way of evil men.

¹⁵ Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

¹⁶ For they don't sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.

¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, That shines more and more until the perfect day.

¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don't know what they stumble over.

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 who find them, And health to their whole body.

²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it is the wellspring of life.

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;

⁶ Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."

¹² Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.