The Excellence and Beneficent Power of Wisdom

4 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction.

Pay attention to gain understanding.

2 For the counsel I give you is good.

Do not forsake my teaching.

3 When I was my father’s child,

loved by my mother, and tender,

4 he used to say, as he taught me,

‘Hold fast my words in your mind.

Keep my commandments and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding.

6 If you do not leave her, she will keep you;

If you hold her dear, she will guard you.

8 Prize her and she will exalt you

and honour you if you embrace her.

9 She will set a fair wreath on your head

and a glorious crown she will give you.’

10 Listen, my son, and accept my words,

and the years of your life will be many.

11 I teach you the way of wisdom,

I guide you in honour’s paths.

12 You will walk with steps unconstrained.

You will run without ever stumbling.

13 Keep unceasing hold of instruction;

Guard her, for she is your life.

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked.

Do now walk in the way of the evil.

15 Do not cross it, avoid it.

Turn aside, and pass on.

16 For they do not sleep unless they have done some harm.

They are sleepless until they have wrought some ruin.

17 For the bread that they eat is won by crime,

and the wine that they drink is procured by cruelty.

18 but the way of the just is like light of the morning,

which shines more and more till the day is full.

19 The way of the wicked is through deep darkness,

Which hides from them that they stumble into;

20 My son, listen to my words.

Bend your ear to the things that I say.

21 Do not let them out of your sight.

Keep them within your heart.

22 They are life to those who find them,

and health to all their being.

23 Guard your heart with all vigilance,

for this is the way to life.

24 Put away all crooked speech,

and banish all devious talk.

25 Let your eyes look straight in front,

and your eyelids right before you.

26 Make a level path for your feet,

and let all your ways be firm.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left.

Keep your foot away from evil.