Proverbs, 4

¹ Listen, my sons, to the discipline of a father; Pay attention in order to gain understanding,

² For I will give you good instruction; Do not forsake my teaching.^*1

³ I was a true son to my father And the one especially loved by my mother.

⁴ He taught me and said: “May your heart hold fast to my words. Keep my commandments and continue living.

⁵ Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding. Do not forget, and do not turn aside from what I say.

⁶ Do not forsake it, and it will protect you. Love it, and it will safeguard you.

⁷ Wisdom is the most important^*1 thing, so acquire wisdom, And with all you acquire, acquire understanding.

⁸ Highly esteem it, and it will exalt you. It will honor you because you embrace it.

⁹ It will place an attractive wreath on your head; It will adorn you with a crown of beauty.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, and accept my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.

¹¹ I will instruct you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you in the tracks of uprightness.

¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; And if you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Hold on to discipline; do not let it go. Safeguard it, for it means your life.

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

¹⁵ Shun it, do not take it; Turn away from it, and pass it by.

¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they do what is bad. They are robbed of sleep unless they cause someone’s downfall.

¹⁷ They feed themselves with the bread of wickedness, And they drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light That grows brighter and brighter until full daylight.

¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like the darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to my words; Listen carefully^*1 to my sayings.

²¹ Do not lose sight of them; Keep them deep within your heart,

²² For they are life to those who find them And health to their whole body.^*1

²³ Above all the things that you guard, safeguard your heart, For out of it are the sources of life.

²⁴ Put crooked speech away from you, And keep devious talk far away from you.

²⁵ Your eyes should look straight ahead, Yes, fix your gaze^*1 straight ahead of you.

²⁶ Smooth out^*1 the course of your feet, And all your ways will be sure.

²⁷ Do not incline to the right or the left. Turn your feet away from what is bad.