The Benefits of Wisdom
1 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. 2 What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. 3 When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son, 4 my father would teach me. He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. 6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. 7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. 8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor. 9 She will be your crowning glory.”
10 Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life. 11 I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live. 12 Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. 13 Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life—guard it well. 14 Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. 15 Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way. 16 Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone. 17 Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
18 The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. 19 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words. 21 Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. 22 They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. 23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 24 Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. 25 Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame. 26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
1 Uzklausiet, mani bērni, sava tēva pamācības, ievērojiet, ka jūs mācītos un kļūtu gudri! 2 Jo es dodu jums labu pamācību: neatmetiet manus baušļus! 3 Jo es biju sava tēva dēls, savai mātei luteklītis un vienīgais. 4 Un viņš mācīja mani un teica:"Lai tava sirds uzņem manus vārdus! Turi manus baušļus, tad tu dzīvosi. 5 Pieņemies gudrībā, pieņemies prātā, neaizmirsti un neatkāpies no manas mutes vārdiem! 6 Nepamet gudrību, tad tā tevi pasargās; mīli to, tad tā tevi paglābs. 7 Jo īstās gudrības sākums ir, ja to labprāt klausās un ja tā cilvēkiem ir mīļāka par visiem labumiem kopā! 8 Centies to augsti cienīt, tad tevi paaugstinās un iecels godā, ja vien tu to mīlestībā spiedīsi sev pie sirds. 9 Tā daiļi greznos tavu galvu un izdaiļos tevi ar diženu vainagu." 10 Tad uzklausi mani, mans dēls, un iegaumē manu runu, tad tavu dzīves gadu skaits kļūs jo liels. 11 Es vedīšu tevi pa gudrības ceļu, es izvedīšu tevi uz pareizās stigas, 12 lai, kad tu iesi, tavs gājums tev nekļūtu nepatīkams, un, kad tu skriesi, lai tava kāja nekur neapdauzītos. 13 Turies cieši pie pamācības, neatkāpies no tās; glabā to, jo tā ir tava dzīvība. 14 Neej pa bezdievju tekām un neuzej uz ļaunu cilvēku ceļa! 15 Lai tas aizlokās projām no tevis, un neej pa to; vairies no tā un ej tam secen! 16 Jo viņi neaiziet gulēt, iekāms viņi nav ko ļaunu nodarījuši; viņiem nenāk miegs, iekāms viņi nav nodarījuši kādu zaudējumu. 17 Jo viņi pārtiek no bezdievīgo maizes un dzer negantības vīnu. 18 Bet taisno teka mirdz kā rīta ausmas gaišums, kas arvienu kļūst spilgtāks, līdz pilnīgi uzaust diena. 19 Bezdievīgo ceļš ir kā akla tumsa; viņi nezina, pār ko tie kritīs. 20 Mans dēls, ievēro manus vārdus, un lai tava auss nosliecas manai runai pretī! 21 Lai tie neizslīd no tavas apziņas un redzes loka; saglabā tos savā sirdī! 22 Jo tie ir dzīvība tiem, kas tos atrod, un ir zāles visai viņu miesai, kas dziedina. 23 Pāri visam, kas jāsarga, sargi savu sirdi, jo no turienes rosās dzīvība! 24 Vairi projām no sevis negantību teicēju mutes, un arī lai paļātāju mutes ir tālu projām no tevis! 25 Lai tavas acis raugās taisni uz priekšu, un lai tavu acu plakstiņi raudzītos taisni tavā priekšā. 26 Apsver savu kāju soļus, tad tu droši virzīsies uz priekšu! 27 Negriezies ne pa labi, ne pa kreisi; virzi savas kājas projām no ļauna!
