1  ^fHear, O sons, a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may ^ggain¹ insight,

2  for I give you good ^hprecepts;

do not forsake my teaching.

3  When I was a son with my father,

ⁱtender, ^jthe only one in the sight of my mother,

4  he ^ktaught me and said to me,

^l“Let your heart hold fast my words;

^mkeep my commandments, and live.

5  ⁿGet wisdom; get ^ginsight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

6  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;

^olove her, and she will guard you.

7  ^pThe beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,

and whatever you get, get ^ginsight.

8  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;

she will ^qhonor you ^rif you embrace her.

9  She will place on your head ^sa graceful garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

10  ^fHear, ^tmy son, and accept my words,

that ^uthe years of your life may be many.

11  I have ^vtaught you the way of wisdom;

I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

12  When you walk, ^wyour step will not be hampered,

and ^xif you run, you will not stumble.

13  ^yKeep hold of instruction; do not let go;

guard her, for she is your ^zlife.

14  ^aDo not enter the path of the wicked,

and do not walk in the way of the evil.

15  Avoid it; do not go on it;

turn away from it and pass on.

16  For they ^bcannot sleep unless they have done wrong;

they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.