Many devas and humans beings
give thought to protection,
desiring well-being.
Tell, then, the highest protection.

Not consorting with fools,
consorting with the wise,
paying homage to those worthy of homage:
    This is the highest protection.

Living in a civilized land,
having made merit in the past,
directing oneself rightly:
    This is the highest protection.

Broad knowledge, skill,
well-mastered discipline,
well-spoken words:
    This is the highest protection.

Support for one's parents,
assistance to one's wife and children,
consistency in one's work:
    This is the highest protection.

Giving, living in rectitude,
assistance to one's relatives,
deeds that are blameless:
    This is the highest protection.

Avoiding, abstaining from evil;
refraining from intoxicants,
being heedful of the qualities of the mind:
    This is the highest protection.

Respect, humility,
contentment, gratitude,
hearing the Dhamma on timely occasions:
    This is the highest protection.

Patience, compliance,
seeing contemplatives,
discussing the Dhamma on timely occasions:
    This is the highest protection.

Austerity, celibacy,
seeing the Noble Truths,
realizing Unbinding:
    This is the highest protection.

A mind that, when touched
by the ways of the world,
is unshaken, sorrowless, dustless, at rest:
    This is the highest protection.

Everywhere undefeated
when acting in this way,
people go everywhere in well-being:
    This is their highest protection.