Get Wisdom at Any Cost

4 Listen, my sons,b to a father’s instruction;c

pay attention and gain understanding.d

2 I give you sound learning,

so do not forsake my teaching.

3 For I too was a son to my father,

still tender, and cherished by my mother.

4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,

“Take holde of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands, and you will live.f

5 Get wisdom,g get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

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

love her, and she will watch over you.i

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Geta wisdom.

Though it cost allj you have,b get understanding.k

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.l

9 She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.m”

10 Listen, my son,n accept what I say,

and the years of your life will be many.o

11 I instructp you in the way of wisdom

and lead you along straight paths.q

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

when you run, you will not stumble.r

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

guard it well, for it is your life.s

14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

or walk in the way of evildoers.t

15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;

turn from it and go on your way.

16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;u

they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

17 They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.v

18 The path of the righteousw is like the morning sun,x

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.y

19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;z

they do not know what makes them stumble.a

20 My son,b pay attention to what I say;

turn your ear to my words.c

21 Do not let them out of your sight,d

keep them within your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them

and health to one’s whole body.e

23 Above all else, guardf your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.g

24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyesh look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to thec paths for your feeti

and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;j

keep your foot from evil.