Proverbs 4

¹ Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight;

² for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.

³ When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

⁴ he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live;

⁵ "Get Wisdom, get understanding!" do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will keep you, love her, and she will guard you.

⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

⁸ Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

⁹ She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."

¹⁰ Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.

¹¹ I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

¹² When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men.

¹⁵ Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.

¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble.

¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

²⁰ My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

²¹ Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.

²² For they are life to him who finds them, and healing to all his flesh.

²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.

²⁴ Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

²⁵ Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

²⁶ Take heed to the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure.

²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.