1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend that you may know prudence.
2. I will give you a good gift, forsake not my law.
3. For I also was my father's son, tender and as an only son in the sight of my mother:
4. And he taught me, and said: Let thy heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.
5. Get wisdom, get prudence: forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6. Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her, and she shall preserve thee.
7. The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom, and with all thy possession purchase prudence.
8. Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her.
9. She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a noble crown.