Proverbs 4

Wisdom Is Best

1 My children, listen to a father's teaching.
Pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you good advice.
So don't turn away from what I teach you.
3 I was once a young boy in my father's house.
I was my mother's only child.
4 My father taught me.
He said, "Hold on to my words with all your heart.
Keep my commands. Then you will live.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding.
Don't forget my words. Don't turn away from them.
6 Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe.
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is best. So get wisdom.
No matter what it costs, get understanding.
8 Value wisdom, and she will lift you up.
Hold her close, and she will honor you.

9 She will set a beautiful crown on your head.
She will give you a glorious crown."
10 My son, listen. Accept what I say.
Then you will live for many years.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom.
I lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, nothing will slow you down.
When you run, you won't trip and fall.
13 Hold on to my teaching. Don't let it go.
Guard it well. It is your life.
14 Don't take the path of evil people.
Don't live the way sinners do.
15 Stay away from their path. Don't travel on it.
Turn away from it. Go on your way.
16 Sinners can't sleep until they do what is evil.
They can't rest until they make someone fall.

17 They do evil just as easily as they eat food.
They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.
18 The 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.

19 But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness.
They don't know what makes them trip and fall.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say.
Listen closely to my words.
21 Don't let them out of your sight.
Keep them in your heart.
22 They are life to those who find them.
They are health to your whole body.
23 Above everything else, guard your heart.
It is where your life comes from.
24 Don't speak with twisted words.
Keep evil talk away from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Keep looking right in front of you.
26 Make level paths for your feet to walk on.
Only go on ways that are firm.
27 Don't turn to the right or left.
Keep your feet from the path of evil.

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.