Proverbs 4

Security in Wisdom

4Hear, ^amy children, the instruction of a father,

And give attention to know understanding;

²For I give you good doctrine:

Do not forsake my law.

³When I was my father’s son,

^bTender and the only one in the sight of my mother,

^4cHe also taught me, and said to me:

“Let your heart retain my words;

^dKeep my commands, and live.

^5eGet wisdom! Get understanding!

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

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

^fLove her, and she will keep you.

^7gWisdom is the principal thing;

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

^8hExalt her, and she will promote you;

She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

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

A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

¹⁰Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,

^jAnd the years of your life will be many.

¹¹I have ^ktaught you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in right paths.

¹²When you walk, ^lyour steps will not be hindered,

^mAnd when you run, you will not stumble.

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

Keep her, for she is your life.

¹⁴ⁿDo not enter the path of the wicked,

And do not walk in the way of evil.

¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;

Turn away from it and pass on.

^16oFor they do not sleep unless they have done evil;

And their sleep is ¹taken away unless they make someone fall.

¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness,

And drink the wine of violence.

^18pBut the path of the just ^qis like the shining ²sun,

That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

^19rThe way of the wicked is like darkness;

They do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

²¹Do not let them depart from your eyes;

Keep them in the midst of your heart;

²²For they are life to those who find them,

And health to all their flesh.

²³Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of ^slife.

²⁴Put away from you a ³deceitful mouth,

And put perverse lips far from you.

²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead,

And your eyelids look right before you.

²⁶Ponder the path of your ^tfeet,

And let all your ways be established.

²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left;

Remove your foot from evil.