1. |
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding. |
2. |
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. |
3. |
For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother. |
4. |
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy 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. |
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee. |
7. |
The first thing `is' wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding. |
8. |
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her. |
9. |
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely. |
10. |
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life `are' multiplied to thee. |
11. |
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness. |
12. |
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not. |
13. |
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she `is' thy life. |
14. |
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers. |
15. |
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on. |
16. |
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. |
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink. |
18. |
And the path of the righteous `is' as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established, |
19. |
The way of the wicked `is' as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble. |
20. |
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear, |
21. |
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart. |
22. |
For life they `are' to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing. |
23. |
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it `are' the outgoings of life. |
24. |
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee, |
25. |
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee. |
26. |
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways `are' established. |
27. |
Incline not `to' the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil! |