Get wisdom at any cost

¹Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;

pay attention and gain understanding.

²I give you sound learning,

so do not forsake my teaching.

³For I too was a son to my father,

still tender, and cherished by my mother.

⁴Then he taught me, and he said to me,

‘Take hold of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands, and you will live.

⁵Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

⁶Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

⁸Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honour you.

⁹She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.’

¹⁰Listen, my son, accept what I say,

and the years of your life will be many.

¹¹I instruct you in the way of wisdom

and lead you along straight paths.

¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it well, for it is your life.

¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

or walk in the way of evildoers.

¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;

turn from it and go on your way.

¹⁶For they cannot rest until they do evil;

they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰My son, pay attention to what I say;

turn your ear to my words.

²¹Do not let them out of your sight,

keep them within your heart;

²²for they are life to those who find them

and health to one’s whole body.

²³Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

²⁴Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁶Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways.

²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.