1Listen my sons to what your father teaches you. Pay attention and gain understanding. 2I give you good instruction. Do not abandon my Law! 3I was my fathers son, tender and the only son to my mother. 4Father taught me. He said: »Remember my words in your heart. Obey my commandments and live. 5»Achieve wisdom and understanding! Do not forget or ignore what I say. 6»Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe. 7»Wisdom is the most important thing. So gain wisdom! And by all means arrive at understanding. 8»Love wisdom and she will exalt you. Embrace wisdom and she will honor you. 9»She will present you with a crown of glory.« 10Listen to me, my son. Accept what I tell you and live a long life. 11I taught you wisdom and the right way to live. 12Walk with wisdom and nothing will stand in your way. Run with wisdom and you will not stumble. 13Take firm hold of instruction and do not let go. Obey her for she is your life. 14Do not enter the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men. 15Avoid it! Do not pass by it. Turn away from it, and pass on! 16They do not sleep unless they have done evil. Their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18The path of the righteous is like the shining light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the more perfect day. 19The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. 20My son, pay attention to my words. Incline your ear extend your hearing to my sayings. 21Do not let them leave your sight. Hold them in the midst of your heart! 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it come the source of life. 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth. Get rid of devious speech. 25Let your eyes look straight ahead. Let you own eyes gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26Ponder the path of your feet. Let all your ways be established firm. 27Do not turn to the right or to the left. Remove your foot from evil.