Thomson(i)
1 Hear, children, the instructions of a father; and attend to know the meaning:
2 for I am giving you a good gift: forsake not my law:
3 for I was a son obedient to a father; and beloved in the sight of a mother:
4 and they said when they taught me, "Let our words sink deep in thy heart. Keep our commandments; do not forget;
5 overlook not the dictate of my mouth:
6 forsake it not, and it will defend thee: love it and it will preserve thee:
7 [Omitted]
8 secure it and it will exalt thee: honour it that it may embrace thee:
9 that it may be to thy head a crown of graces and cover thee with a crown of pleasure.
10 Hear my son and receive my words; that, when the years of thy life shall be multiplied, thou mayst have many ways of livelihood:
11 for I am teaching thee ways of wisdom; and confirming thee in right paths.
12 For when thou goest, thy steps will not be straitened: and when thou runnest thou shalt not be tired.
13 Take fast hold of mine instruction, let it not go: but keep it for thyself during thy life.
14 Go not in the ways of wicked men; nor be fond of the ways of transgressors.
15 In what place soever they encamp, go not thither: but turn away from them and keep at a distance:
16 for they cannot sleep. Unless they do evil; their sleep is taken from them and they cannot lie down to rest.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness; and drink plentifully of the wine of violence.
18 But the paths of the just shine like light; shining more and more until it is perfect day.
19 But the ways of the wicked being dark; they know not at what they stumble.
20 Attend, my son, to my speech, and incline thine ear to my words.
21 That thy fountains may not fail thee, keep them in thy heart;
22 for they are life to them who find them and health to all flesh.
23 Guard thy heart with all diligence; for out of these are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put perverse lips far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look straight forward and thine eyelids wink justly.
26 Make straight paths with thy feet and order all thy ways right.
27 Turn not to the right, nor the left; but turn away thy foot from an evil way; for God knoweth the ways on the right, but those on the left are crooked. But he will make thy paths straight and conduct thy steps in peace.