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