Proverbs 4

Wisdom Is Important

1 My children, listen to your father’s teaching; pay attention so you will understand.

2 What I am telling you is good, so do not forget what I teach you.

3 When I was a young boy in my father’s house and like an only child to my mother,

4 my father taught me and said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands and you will live.

5 Get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget or ignore my words.

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

7 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.

8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.

9 It will be like flowers in your hair and like a beautiful crown on your head.”

10 My child, listen and accept what I say. Then you will have a long life.

11 I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path.

12 Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed.

13 Always 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.

14 Don’t follow the ways of the wicked; don’t do what evil people do.

15 Avoid their ways, and don’t follow them. Stay away from them and keep on going,

16 because they cannot sleep until they do evil. They cannot rest until they harm someone.

17 They feast on wickedness and cruelty as if they were eating bread and drinking wine.

18 The way of the good person is like the light of dawn, growing brighter and brighter until full daylight.

19 But the wicked walk around in the dark; they can’t even see what makes them stumble.

20 My child, pay attention to my words; listen closely to what I say.

21 Don’t ever forget my words; keep them always in mind.

22 They are the key to life for those who find them; they bring health to the whole body.

23 Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

24 Don’t use your mouth to tell lies; don’t ever say things that are not true.

25 Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good.

26 Be careful what you do, and always do what is right.
27 Don’t turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths.

Proverbs 4

1 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:

2 For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.

16 For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.