A Father’s Inheritance
1Hear, sons, a father’s discipline, and pay attention, so that you may know understanding; 2for I give you good learning: do not abandon my teaching. 3When I was a son to my father, tender and the only one in my mother’s eyes, 4he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold on to my words; keep my commandments and live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6Do not abandon her, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 7The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom; and with all you get, get understanding. 8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her. 9She will set a graceful wreath on your head; a crown of splendor she will hand to you.”
The Two Paths
10Hear, my son, and accept my words, and the years of your life will be many. 11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you on straight tracks. 12When you walk, your step will not be hemmed in; and if you run, you will not stumble. 13Hold fast to discipline; do not let go: guard her, for she is your life. 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men. 15Avoid it, do not pass along it; turn away from it and go on. 16For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil; their sleep is stolen from them unless they make someone stumble. 17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, growing brighter and brighter until full day. 19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.
Guard Your Heart
20My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21Do not let them out of your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart; 22for they are life to those who find them and healing to all their flesh. 23Above all that you guard, guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life. 24Put away from you a crooked mouth, and keep devious lips far from you. 25Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your gaze be fixed straight before you. 26Level the track of your feet, and all your ways will be secure. 27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; keep your foot away from evil.
