Proverbs 4

¹Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

²For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.

³When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,

⁴he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.

⁵Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.

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

⁷Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

⁸Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

⁹She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

¹⁰Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.

¹¹I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.

¹²When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

¹³Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.

¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

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

¹⁶For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.