Listen to a Father's Instruction
1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
A Father’s Instruction
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
A Father’s Instruction
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 For I give you sound teaching;
do not abandon my directive.
3 When I was a son to my father,
tender and the only child of my mother,
4 he taught me and said,
“Let your heart lay hold of my words;
keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.
And whatever you may acquire, a gain understanding.
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head;
she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom;
I will lead you on straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it.
Turn from it and pass on by.
16 For they cannot sleep
unless they do evil;
they are deprived of slumber
until they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to the whole body.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence,
for from it flow springs of life.
24 Put away deception from your mouth;
keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Make a level path for your feet, b
and all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your feet away from evil.
Footnotes:
7 a Or And whatever else you acquire
26 b Or Ponder the path for your feet ; LXX Make straight paths for your feet ; cited in Hebrews 12:13
Listen to a Father's Instruction
1Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother.
4And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7The first thing is wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life are multiplied to thee.
11In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she is thy life.
14Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not some to stumble.
17For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18And the path of the righteous is as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19The way of the wicked is as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22For life they are to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it are the outgoings of life.
24Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways are established.
27Incline not to the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
