Proverbs 4:1–9

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

for I give you good precepts;

do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a son with my father,

tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words;

keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom; get insight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;

love her, and she will guard you.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,

and whatever you get, get insight.

Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

She will place on your head a graceful garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;

pay attention and gain understanding.

I give you sound learning,

so do not forsake my teaching.

For I too was a son to my father,

still tender, and cherished by my mother.

Then he taught me, and he said to me,

“Take hold of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands, and you will live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.”

Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline,

and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

for I am giving you good instruction.

Don’t abandon my teaching.

When I was a son with my father,

tender and precious to my mother,

he taught me and said,

“Your heart must hold on to my words.

Keep my commands and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;

don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.

Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;

love her, and she will guard you.

Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.

And whatever else you get, get understanding.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you.

She will place a garland of favor on your head;

she will give you a crown of beauty.”

My children, listen when your father corrects you.

Pay attention and learn good judgment,

for I am giving you good guidance.

Don’t turn away from my instructions.

For I, too, was once my father’s son,

tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

My father taught me,

“Take my words to heart.

Follow my commands, and you will live.

Get wisdom; develop good judgment.

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

Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.

Love her, and she will guard you.

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!

And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.

Embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will place a lovely wreath on your head;

she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

Children, listen to the instruction of a father,

and be attentive in order to know insight.

For I have given you good instruction;

do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a son to my father,

tender and alone before my mother,

he taught me and said to me,

“May your heart hold fast to my words;

guard my commandments and live.

Get wisdom and insight;

do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;

love her and she will keep you.

The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!

With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

Cherish her and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

She will give a garland for your head;

she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,

And attend to know understanding.

For I give you good doctrine,

Forsake ye not my law.

For I was my father’s son,

Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

He taught me also, and said unto me,

Let thine heart retain my words:

Keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding:

Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:

Love her, and she shall keep thee.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

And with all thy getting get understanding.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:

She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:

A crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.