Proverbs 4

Wisdom Is Best

4My children, listen to a father’s teaching.

Pay attention and gain understanding.

²I give you good advice.

So don’t turn away from what I teach you.

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

I was my mother’s only child.

⁴My father taught me.

He said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart.

Keep my commands. Then you will live.

⁵Get wisdom. Get understanding.

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

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

Love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷Wisdom is best. So get wisdom.

No matter what it costs, get understanding.

⁸Value wisdom, and she will lift you up.

Hold her close, and she will honor you.

⁹She will set a beautiful crown on your head.

She will give you a glorious crown.”

¹⁰My son, listen. Accept what I say.

Then you will live for many years.

¹¹I guide you in the way of wisdom.

I lead you along straight paths.

¹²When you walk, nothing will slow you down.

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

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

Guard it well. It is your life.

¹⁴Don’t take the path of evil people.

Don’t live the way sinners do.

¹⁵Stay away from their path. Don’t travel on it.

Turn away from it. Go on your way.

¹⁶Sinners can’t sleep until they do what is evil.

They can’t rest until they make someone fall.

¹⁷They do evil just as easily as they eat food.

They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.

¹⁸The path of those who do what is right is like the first gleam of dawn.

It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day.

¹⁹But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness.

They don’t know what makes them trip and fall.

²⁰My son, pay attention to what I say.

Listen closely to my words.

²¹Don’t let them out of your sight.

Keep them in your heart.

²²They are life to those who find them.

They are health to your whole body.

²³Above everything else, guard your heart.

It is where your life comes from.

²⁴Don’t speak with twisted words.

Keep evil talk away from your lips.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead.

Keep looking right in front of you.

²⁶Make level paths for your feet to walk on.

Only go on ways that are firm.

²⁷Don’t turn to the right or left.

Keep your feet from the path of evil.