1Hear, children, a father's discipline, and listen in order to know understanding.2For I gave you pleasant teaching; do not forsake my instruction.3For I was a tender and only child to my father, before my mother.4He showed me and said to me, "Let your heart grasp my words; keep my commandments and live."5Buy wisdom; buy understanding; do not forget them and do not turn away from the words of my lips.6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will watch you.7The beginning of wisdom is: Buy wisdom, and with all your acquisition buy understanding.8Build her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you, for you embrace her.9She will give a wreath of favor to your head, a crown of beauty; she will deliver you.10Hear, my child, and take my words, and years of life will be multiplied to you.11In the way of wisdom I showed you; I led you in tracks of uprightness.12When you walk, your step will not be distressed, and if you run you will not stumble.13Strengthen yourself in discipline; do not slacken; watch her, for she is your life.14Do not enter the way of the wicked, and do not bless the way of the bad.15Neglect him; do not pass through him; turn aside from him and pass on.16For they do not sleep unless they do evil, and their sleep is plundered unless they cause someone to stumble.17For they feed on the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.18The way of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the day is established.19The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know in what they stumble.20My child, listen to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.21Do not let them turn aside from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.22For they are life to those who find them and healing to all his flesh.23Above all custody, watch your heart, for from it are the outgoings of life.24Remove crookedness of lip from you and remove perversity of lips from you.25Your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids are directed before you.26Make straight the track of your foot, and all your ways will be established.27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from the bad.