GodsWord - Proverbs - 4

4:1  Sons, listen to your father's discipline, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.

4:2  After all, I have taught you well. Do not abandon my teachings.

4:3  When I was a boy learning from my father, when I was a tender and only child of my mother,

4:4  they used to teach me and say to me, "Cling to my words wholeheartedly. Obey my commands so that you may live.

4:5  Acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding. Do not forget. Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken.

4:6  Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you. Love wisdom, and it will protect you.

4:7  The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding with all that you have.

4:8  Cherish wisdom. It will raise you up. It will bring you honor when you embrace it.

4:9  It will give you a graceful garland for your head. It will hand you a beautiful crown."

4:10  My son, listen and accept my words, and they will multiply the years of your life.

4:11  I have taught you the way of wisdom. I have guided you along decent paths.

4:12  When you walk, your stride will not be hampered. Even if you run, you will not stumble.

4:13  Cling to discipline. Do not relax your grip on it. Keep it because it is your life.

4:14  Do not stray onto the path of wicked people. Do not walk in the way of evil people.

4:15  Avoid it. Do not walk near it. Turn away from it, and keep on walking.

4:16  Wicked people cannot sleep unless they do wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they make someone stumble.

4:17  They eat food obtained through wrongdoing and drink wine obtained through violence.

4:18  But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.

4:19  The way of wicked people is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.

4:20  My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say.

4:21  Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart

4:22  because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body.

4:23  Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.

4:24  Remove dishonesty from your mouth. Put deceptive speech far away from your lips.

4:25  Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.

4:26  Carefully walk a straight path, and all your ways will be secure.

4:27  Do not lean to the right or to the left. Walk away from evil.