A Father’s Example

4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline, s

and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

2 for I am giving you good instruction. t

Don’t abandon my teaching.

3 When I was a son with my father,

tender and precious to my mother,

4 he taught me and said:

“Your heart must hold on to my words.

Keep my commands and live. u

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; v

don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;

love her, w and she will guard you.

7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.

And whatever else you get, get understanding. x

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you. y

9 She will place a garland of grace on your head;

she will give you a crown of beauty.” z

Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, a

and you will live many years. b

11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;

I am guiding you on straight paths. c

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; d

when you run, you will not stumble. e

13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. f

Guard it, for it is your life.

14 Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked; g

don’t proceed in the way of evil ones.

15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.

Turn away from it, and pass it by.

16 For they can’t sleep

unless they have done what is evil;

they are robbed of sleep

unless they make someone stumble. h

17 They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, i

shining brighter and brighter until midday.

19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; j

they don’t know what makes them stumble. k

The Straight Path

20 My son, pay attention to my words;

listen closely to my sayings. l

21 Don’t lose sight of them; m

keep them within your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them,

and health to one’s whole body.

23 Guard your heart above all else, n

for it is the source of life. o

24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, p

and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

25 Let your eyes look forward;

fix your gaze q straight ahead. r

26 Carefully consider the path s for your feet, t

and all your ways will be established.

27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; u

keep your feet away from evil.