Proverbs 4

1Listen, sons, to a father's instruction, and give heed to gain understanding.

2For I give you good instruction; do not forsake my law.

3For I was my father's tender, only son in my mother's sight.

4He instructed me and said to me, "Hold my words in your heart; keep my commandments and live."

5Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget, nor turn from the words of my mouth.

6Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will protect you.

7The beginning of wisdom: get wisdom, and with all your possessions get understanding.

8Exalt her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.

9She will give an ornament of grace to your head; she will deliver a crown of beauty to you.

10Listen, my son, and accept my words; years of life will multiply for you.

11I have instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have guided you in straight paths.

12When you walk, your step will not be constricted; when you run, you will not stumble.

13Cling to instruction; do not release her. Guard her, for she is your life.

14Do not step onto the path of the wicked, nor walk the way of evildoers.

15Avoid it, do not pass over it; turn aside from it, and pass on.

16For they do not sleep unless they do harm, and their sleep is robbed away unless they cause someone to stumble.

17For they eat wickedness as bread and drink violence as wine.

18But the path of the righteous is like the shining light that advances brighter and brighter until the day stands firm.

19The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

20My son, give heed to my words; turn your ear to my sayings.

21Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the core of your heart.

22For they are life to their finders and healing to all their flesh.

23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it come the goings forth of life.

24Remove crookedness from your mouth, and keep perverse lips far from you.

25Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids direct before you.

26Weigh the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

27Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.