Proverbs 4:5–13

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.”

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,

and the years of your life will be many.

11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom

and lead you along straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it well, for it is your life.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding:

Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:

Love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

And with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:

She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:

A crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;

And the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;

I have led thee in right paths.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;

And when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go:

Keep her; for she is thy life.

5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.

Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.

6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.

Love her, and she will guard you.

7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!

And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.

Embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;

she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,

and you will have a long, good life.

11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways

and lead you in straight paths.

12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;

when you run, you won’t stumble.

13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.

Guard them, for they are the key to life.

5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!

Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;

Love her, and she will keep you.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing;

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;

She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;

A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,

And the years of your life will be many.

11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in right paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,

And when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;

Keep her, for she is your life.

5 Get wisdom and understanding.

Don’t forget or ignore my words.

6 Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you.

Love it, and it will keep you safe.

7 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom.

If it costs everything you have, get understanding.

8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great;

hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.

9 It will be like flowers in your hair

and like a beautiful crown on your head.”

10 My child, listen and accept what I say.

Then you will have a long life.

11 I am guiding you in the way of wisdom,

and I am leading you on the right path.

12 Nothing will hold you back;

you will not be overwhelmed.

13 Always remember what you have been taught,

and don’t let go of it.

Keep all that you have learned;

it is the most important thing in life.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee;

Love her, and she will keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom;

Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee;

She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace;

A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;

And the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;

I have led thee in paths of uprightness.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;

And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go:

Keep her; for she is thy life.

5 Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee. 7 The beginning of wisdom is, Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee. 10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be multiplied. 11 I will teach thee in the way of wisdom, I will lead thee in paths of uprightness. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go: keep her, for she is thy life.

5 Acquire wisdom. 

Acquire understanding. 

Do not forget. 

Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken. 

6 Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you. 

Love wisdom, and it will protect you. 

7 The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. 

Acquire understanding with all that you have. 

8 Cherish wisdom. 

It will raise you up. 

It will bring you honor when you embrace it. 

9 It will give you a graceful garland for your head. 

It will hand you a beautiful crown.” 

10 My son, 

listen and accept my words, 

and they will multiply the years of your life. 

11 I have taught you the way of wisdom. 

I have guided you along decent paths. 

12 When you walk, your stride will not be hampered. 

Even if you run, you will not stumble. 

13 Cling to discipline. 

Do not relax your grip on it. 

Keep it because it is your life. 

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;

love her, and she will guard you.

7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.

And whatever else you get, get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9 She will place a garland of grace on your head;

she will give you a crown of beauty.”

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words,

and you will live many years.

11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;

I am guiding you on straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.

Guard it, for it is your life.

5 Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor 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 else 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 child, 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.

5 Get wisdom and insight;

do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;

love her and she will keep you.

7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!

With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

8 Cherish her and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

9 She will give a garland for your head;

she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

10 Listen, my child, take my sayings,

and the years of your life shall be great.

11 In the way of wisdom I have instructed you;

I have led you in the path of uprightness.

12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,

and if you run, you will not stumble.

13 Seize the instruction! Do not let go!

Guard her, for she is your life.

5 Get wisdom. Get understanding.

Don’t forget my words. Don’t turn away from them.

6 Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe.

Love her, and she will watch over you.

7 Wisdom is best. So get wisdom.

No matter what it costs, get understanding.

8 Value wisdom, and she will lift you up.

Hold her close, and she will honor you.

9 She will set a beautiful crown on your head.

She will give you a glorious crown.”

10 My son, listen. Accept what I say.

Then you will live for many years.

11 I guide you in the way of wisdom.

I lead you along straight paths.

12 When you walk, nothing will slow you down.

When you run, you won’t trip and fall.

13 Hold on to my teaching. Don’t let it go.

Guard it well. It is your life.

5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!

Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;

Love her, and she will watch over you.

7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;

And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you;

She will honor you if you embrace her.

9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace;

She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings

And the years of your life will be many.

11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in upright paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

And if you run, you will not stumble.

13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go.

Guard her, for she is your life.