1Hear, sons, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2For good teaching I have given to you; do not forsake my Torah.
3For I was a son to my father, tender, and the only one before my mother.
4And he taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments (mitzvot) and live (chai).
5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
7The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; and with all your getting, get understanding.
8Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.
9She will give to your head a wreath of grace; a crown of glory she will bestow on you."
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of life (chai) will be many for you.
11In the way of wisdom I have taught you; I have led you in tracks of uprightness.
12When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.
13Take fast hold of the instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life (chai).
14Into the path of the wicked do not enter, and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
15Avoid it, do not pass through it; turn aside from it and pass on.
16For they do not sleep unless they do evil, and their sleep is robbed away unless they make someone stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and the wine of violence they drink.
18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, going on and shining until the day is established.
19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know at what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; to my sayings incline your ear.
21Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22For they are life (chai) to those who find them, and to all his flesh (basar) healing.
23Above all guarding, keep your heart, for from it are the issues of life (chai).
24Put away from you crookedness of mouth, and perversity of lips put far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look straight before you.
26Make level the track of your foot, and let all your ways be established.
27Do not turn aside to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.