04:001

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding

04:002

For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my teaching

04:003

For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother

04:004

And he taught me, and said unto me: 'Let thy heart hold fast my words, keep my commandments, and live

04:005

Get wisdom, get understanding; forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth

04:006

Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; love her, and she will keep thee

04:007

The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom; yea, with all thy getting get understanding

04:008

Extol her, and she will exalt thee; she will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her

04:009

She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow on thee.

04:010

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many

04:011

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness

04:012

When thou goest, thy step shall not be straitened; and if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble

04:013

Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life

04:014

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men

04:015

Avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass on

04:016

For they sleep not, except they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall

04:017

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence

04:018

But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day

04:019

The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble

04:020

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings

04:021

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart

04:022

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh

04:023

Above all that thou guardest keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life

04:024

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee

04:025

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee

04:026

Make plain the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established

04:027

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil