Dual PanelA Father’s Advice About Wisdom
1Children, listen to your father’s teaching. Pay attention and you will learn how to learn.
2The advice I give is good, so don’t ever forget what I teach you.
3When I was my father’s little boy and my mother’s dear son,
4my father taught me this: “Pay attention to what I say. Obey my commands and you will have a good life.
5Try to get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget my teaching or ignore what I say.
6Don’t turn away from wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe.
7“The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything you have to get understanding.
8Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Hold on to wisdom, and she will bring you honor.
9Wisdom will reward you with a crown of honor and glory.”
Choose the Path of Wisdom
10Son, listen to me. Do what I say, and you will live a long time.
11I am teaching you about wisdom and guiding you on the right path.
12As you walk on it, you will not step into a trap. Even if you run, you will not trip and fall.
13Always remember this teaching. Don’t forget it. It is the key to life, so guard it well.
14Don’t take the path of the wicked; don’t follow those who do evil.
15Stay away from that path; don’t even go near it. Turn around and go another way.
16The wicked cannot sleep until they have done something evil. They will not rest until they bring someone down.
17Evil and violence are their food and drink.
18The path of those who live right is like the early morning light. It gets brighter and brighter until the full light of day.
19But the path of the wicked is like a dark night. They trip and fall over what they cannot see.
Stay on the Right Path
20My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words.
21Don’t let them out of your sight. Never stop thinking about them.
22These words are the secret of life and health to all who discover them.
23Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.
24Don’t bend the truth or say things that you know are not right.
25Keep your eyes on the path, and look straight ahead.
26Make sure you are going the right way, and nothing will make you fall.
27Don’t go to the right or to the left, and you will stay away from evil.