Proverbs 4:1–27

The Benefits of Wisdom

4Listen to what your father teaches you, my sons. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. ²What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. ³When I was only a little boy, my parents’ only son, ⁴my father would teach me. He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live. ⁵Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. ⁶Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. ⁷Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. ⁸Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her,^c and she will bring you honour. ⁹She will be your crowning glory.”

¹⁰Listen to me, my son. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life. ¹¹I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live. ¹²Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. ¹³Always remember what you have learnt. Your education is your life—guard it well. ¹⁴Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. ¹⁵Don’t do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way. ¹⁶Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone. ¹⁷Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.

¹⁸The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. ¹⁹The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.

²⁰Pay attention to what I say, my son. Listen to my words. ²¹Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. ²²They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. ²³Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. ²⁴Never say anything that isn’t true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. ²⁵Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don’t hang your head in shame. ^26*Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. ²⁷Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way.