Jie Säns, heat daut Unjarejchte fonn en Foda; un horjcht soo daut jie Festentnis kjriehe.

Dan ekj jäw junt goode Lea; doo mien Jesatse nijch felote.

Dan ekj wea mien Foda sien Sän, mild, un en eensja Sän bie miene Mutta.

Hee deed mie uk ennleare un säd to mie: "Lot dien Hoat faust hoole to miene Wead; hool mien Aunkommendeare un läw."

Kjrie Weisheit, kjrie Festentnis; felot daut nijch un drei nijch Wajch fonn dee Wead ut mien Mul.

Felot ar nijch, un see woat die beschutse; ha ar leef, un see woat die bewoare.

Weisheit es daut haupt Dinkj, kjrie Weisheit, un met aul dien kjriehe, kjrie Festentis.

Jeff ar Ea, un see woat die nehejcht häwe; see woat die to Ea brinje wan du ar aun näme woascht.

See woat die en Krauns fonn Jnod senne opp dien Kopp; see woat die en Schilt senne met ne Kroon fonn Harlijchkjeit.

10 Hea, O mien Sän, un nemm aun waut ekj saj; un aul diene Läwes Joare woare fäl senne.

11 Ekj ha die unjarejcht enn dän Weisheits Wajch; ekj ha die enn dän rajchta Wajch jeleit;

12 Wan du jeist, woat dien Wajch nijch beschrenkjt woare; un wan du ranst, woascht du nijch stolpre.

13 Hool die faust aun Leare; lot ar nijch gone, dan see es dien Läwe.

14 Go nijch enn dee Beese äa Wajch enenn; un go nijch enn dän äa Wajch enenn dee beeset aungone.

15 Hool die doafonn wajch, go doa nijch febie; drei die wajch un go doafonn.

16 Dan dee schlope nijch wan see nijch Beeset aunjegone ha; un äa Schlop feschwinjt wan see nijch wäm dol faule moake.

17 Dan see äte daut Broot fonn Beeset, un drinkje dän Wien fonn Ommenschlijchet.

18 Oba dee Jerajchte äa Wajch es soo aus en Lijcht daut emma dache un dache woat bott dän follkomna Dach.

19 Dee Beese äa Wajch es soo aus Diestanes; dee weete nijch äwa waut see stolpre.

20 Mien Sän, horjch no miene Wead; beaj dien Ua dol no waut ekj saj;

21 lot dän nijch fonn diene Uage wajch; hool dee enn daut Med fonn dien Hoat;

22 dan dee sent Läwe to dän dee dee finje; un Heele fa aul sien Fleesch.

23 Doo flietijch dien Hoat bewoare, dan fonn daut kome dee läwes striedende Froag.

24 Drei die wajch fonn en beeset Mul, un hool beese Leppe wiet auf fonn die.

25 Lot diene Uage jlikj fer die kjikje; un lot diene Uagelette jlikj no fäare kjikje.

26 Studea dän Stijch fer diene Feet; dan woare diene Wäaj bestädijcht woare.

27 Drei die nijch to dee rajchte Haunt oda no dee linkje; drei dien Foot wajch fonn Beeset.

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(E)
Get wisdom,(F) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(G)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(H)
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(I) you have,[b] get understanding.(J)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(K)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(L)

10 Listen, my son,(M) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(N)
11 I instruct(O) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(P)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(Q)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(R)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.(S)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(T)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.(U)

18 The path of the righteous(V) is like the morning sun,(W)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(X)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(Y)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.(Z)

20 My son,(AA) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(AB)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(AC)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(AD)
23 Above all else, guard(AE) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(AF)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(AG) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet(AH)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(AI)
    keep your foot from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
  3. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level