004:001
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

004:002
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

004:003
For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

004:004
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

004:005
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

004:006
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

004:007
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

004:008
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

004:009
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

004:010
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

004:011
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

004:012
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

004:013
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

004:014
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

004:015
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

004:016
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

004:017
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

004:018
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

004:019
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

004:020
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

004:021
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

004:022
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

004:023
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

004:024
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

004:025
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

004:026
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

004:027
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.