Proverbs 4

Get wisdom above all

My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,a ²for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.b ³For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

⁴My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.c ⁵Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.d ⁶Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.e

⁷Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.f ⁸If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. ⁹She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” ¹⁰My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.

¹¹I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.g ¹²When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.h ¹³Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.i

¹⁴Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.j ¹⁵Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. ¹⁶For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.k

¹⁷They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence! ¹⁸The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.l ¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.m

²⁰My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.n ²¹Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,o ²²for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.p

²³Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.q ²⁴Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.r ²⁵Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.s

²⁶Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.t ²⁷Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.u