1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. | C | TOSK |
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. | C | TOSK |
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, | C | TOSK |
4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live. | C | TOSK |
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. | C | TOSK |
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. | C | TOSK |
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. | C | TOSK |
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. | C | TOSK |
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.” | C | TOSK |
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many. | C | TOSK |
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths. | C | TOSK |
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble. | C | TOSK |
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life. | C | TOSK |
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. | C | TOSK |
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by. | C | TOSK |
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. | C | TOSK |
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. | C | TOSK |
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. | C¹ | C² | TOSK |
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble. | C¹ | C² | TOSK |
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. | C | TOSK |
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. | C | TOSK |
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body. | C | TOSK |
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life. | C | TOSK |
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech. | C | TOSK |
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. | C | TOSK |
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. | C | TOSK |
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil. | C | TOSK |