A Father’s Instruction
Hear, sons, the discipline of a father, and attend, to know understanding,
for I have given you good learning; do not forsake my instruction.
For I was a son to my father, tender and the only one before my mother.
And he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live.
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget, and do not turn aside from the sayings of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and with all your acquiring, acquire understanding.
Exalt her, and she will lift you up; she will honor you when you embrace her.
She will give a wreath of grace to your head; a crown of beauty she will bestow on you.”
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in tracks of uprightness.
When you walk, your step will not be hemmed in, and if you run, you will not stumble.
Take hold of discipline; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
Do not come on the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
Avoid it; do not pass through it; turn aside from it and pass on.
For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; their sleep is robbed unless they make someone stumble.
For they have eaten the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, going on and shining until the day is established.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart,
for they are life to those who find them, and healing to all his flesh.
Above all guarding, guard your heart, for from it are the goings out of life.
Put away from you crookedness of mouth, and put deviousness of lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
Make level the track of your foot, and all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left; turn your foot away from evil.