Proverbs 4:1–27

Wisdom Is Important

4My children, listen to your father’s teaching;

pay attention so you will understand.

²What I am telling you is good,

so do not forget what I teach you.

³When I was a young boy in my father’s house

and like an only child to my mother,

⁴my father taught me and said,

“Hold on to my words with all your heart.

Keep my commands and you will live.

⁵Get wisdom and understanding.

Don’t forget or ignore my words.

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

Love it, and it will keep you safe.

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

If it costs everything you have, get understanding.

⁸Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great;

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

⁹It will be like flowers in your hair

and like a beautiful crown on your head.”

¹⁰My child, listen and accept what I say.

Then you will have a long life.

¹¹I am guiding you in the way of wisdom,

and I am leading you on the right path.

¹²Nothing will hold you back;

you will not be overwhelmed.

¹³Always 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.

¹⁴Don’t follow the ways of the wicked;

don’t do what evil people do.

¹⁵Avoid their ways, and don’t follow them.

Stay away from them and keep on going,

¹⁶because they cannot sleep until they do evil.

They cannot rest until they harm someone.

¹⁷They feast on wickedness and cruelty

as if they were eating bread and drinking wine.

¹⁸The way of the good person is like the light of dawn,

growing brighter and brighter until full daylight.

¹⁹But the wicked walk around in the dark;

they can’t even see what makes them stumble.

²⁰My child, pay attention to my words;

listen closely to what I say.

²¹Don’t ever forget my words;

keep them always in mind.

²²They are the key to life for those who find them;

they bring health to the whole body.

²³Be careful what you think,

because your thoughts run your life.

²⁴Don’t use your mouth to tell lies;

don’t ever say things that are not true.

²⁵Keep your eyes focused on what is right,

and look straight ahead to what is good.

²⁶Be careful what you do,

and always do what is right.

²⁷Don’t turn off the road of goodness;

keep away from evil paths.