^{1 Ref} Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.

^{2 Ref} For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.

^{3 Ref} For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother.

^{4 Ref} And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.

^{5 Ref} Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.

^{6 Ref} Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.

^{7 Ref} The first thing `is' wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.

^{8 Ref} Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.

^{9 Ref} She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.

^{10 Ref} Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life `are' multiplied to thee.

^{11 Ref} In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.

^{12 Ref} In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.

^{13 Ref} Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she `is' thy life.

^{14 Ref} Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.

^{15 Ref} Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.

^{16 Ref} For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not `some' to stumble.

^{17 Ref} For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.

^{18 Ref} And the path of the righteous `is' as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,

^{19 Ref} The way of the wicked `is' as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.

^{20 Ref} My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,

^{21 Ref} Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.

^{22 Ref} For life they `are' to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.

^{23 Ref} Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it `are' the outgoings of life.

^{24 Ref} Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,

^{25 Ref} Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.

^{26 Ref} Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways `are' established.

^{27 Ref} Incline not `to' the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!