1持定訓誨、不偏左右孩子們，要聽父親的教訓，留心學習哲理；
1Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2因為我授予你們的，是美好的學問，我的訓誨，你們不可離棄。
2for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3我在我父親面前還是小孩子，在我母親面前是獨一的嬌兒的時候，
3For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4父親教導我，對我說：“你的心要持守我的話，你要遵守我的誡命，就可以存活；
4He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5要求取智慧和哲理，不可忘記，也不可偏離我口中的話。
5Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
6不可離棄智慧，智慧就必護衛你；喜愛智慧，智慧就必看顧你。
6Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7智慧的開端（“智慧的開端”或譯：“智慧是首要的”）是求取智慧，要用你所得的一切換取哲理。
7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8你要高舉智慧，智慧就必使你高升；你要懷抱智慧，智慧就必使你得尊榮。
8Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9智慧必把華冠加在你頭上，把榮冕賜給你。”
9She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10我兒，你要聽，並要接受我所說的，這樣，你就必延年益壽。
10Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11我指教你走智慧的道，引導你行正直的路。
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12你行走的時候，腳步必不會受阻礙；你奔跑的時候，也不會跌倒。
12When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13你要堅守教訓，不可放鬆；要謹守教訓，因為那是你的生命。
13Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14不可走進惡人的路徑，不可踏上壞人的道路。
14Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15要躲避，不可從那裡經過，要轉身離去。
15Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16因為他們不行惡，就不能入睡；不使人跌倒，就要失眠。
16For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17他們吃的，是奸惡的飯；他們喝的，是強暴的酒。
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18義人的路徑卻像黎明的曙光，越來越明亮，直到日午。
18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19惡人的道路幽暗，他們不知道自己因甚麼跌倒。
19The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20我兒，要留心聽我的話，側耳聽我所說的。
20My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21不可讓它們離開你的眼目，要謹記在你的心中。
21Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22因為得著它們就是得著生命，整個人也得著醫治。
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23你要謹守你的心，勝過謹守一切，因為生命的泉源由此而出。
23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24你要除掉欺詐的口，遠離乖謬的嘴唇。
24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25你雙眼要向前正視，你的眼睛要向前直望。
25Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26你要謹慎你腳下的路徑，你一切所行的就必穩妥。
26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27不可偏左偏右，要使你的腳遠離惡事。
27Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.