Listen to a Father's Instruction

1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2For I give you a good gift; forsake ye not my law.

3For I also was a son obedient to my father, and loved in the sight of my mother:

4who spoke and instructed me, saying, Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep our commandments, forget them not:

5and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.

6And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee.

8Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee;

9that it may give unto thy head a crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight.

10Hear, my son, and receive my words; and the years of thy life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many.

11For I teach thee the ways of wisdom; and I cause thee to go in right paths.

12For when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not be distressed.

13Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for thyself for thy life.

14Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.

15In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away.

16For they cannot sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.

17For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.

18But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.

19But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.

20My son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words:

21that thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in thine heart.

22For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.

24Remove from thee a froward mouth, and put far away from thee unjust lips.

25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids assent to just things.

26Make straight paths for thy feet, and order thy ways aright.

27Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way: for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked: and he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in peace.