Listen, children, to a father’s words; lean in and understand. I’m giving you solid advice, so don’t walk away from my teaching. I was my father’s son, the soft spot of my mother’s eye. He taught me too, and said, let my words hold up your heart; keep my commands and live. Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t lose grip, don’t turn from what I say. Don’t drop it, and it will watch over you; hold it close, and it will keep you. Wisdom starts here: go after wisdom; from all you get, get understanding. Treat it like gold, and it will lift you up; embrace it, and it will bring you honor. It will place a garland of grace on your head, and set a bright crown on you. Now listen, my son, and take in my words; they’ll add years to your life. I’ve shown you the road to wisdom, and led you through straight paths. When you walk, your steps won’t snag; when you run, you won’t fall down. Hold tight to discipline; don’t let it slip. Guard it well, because it’s your life. Don’t step onto the path of the wicked, and don’t go down the way of troublemakers. Stay clear of it; don’t pass through it, turn aside, and keep moving. They can’t sleep unless they’ve done wrong; they lose rest unless they make somebody fall. They live on wicked bread, and drink deep from violence. But the path of the righteous is like the first light of day, growing brighter and brighter until noon. The way of the wicked is like thick dark; they don’t even see what takes them down. My son, listen carefully to what I’m saying; tilt your ear toward my words. Don’t let them out of sight; keep them tucked inside your heart. They are life to those who find them, and healing for the whole body. Above everything else, guard your heart, because everything you do flows from it. Get rid of a crooked mouth, and keep twisted talk far from your lips. Let your eyes stay forward, and fix them on what’s ahead. Mark out the path for your feet, and all your ways will be steady. Don’t turn to the right or the left; pull your foot back from evil Listen, children, to a father’s words; lean in and understand.
