LEB - Proverbs - 4

4:1  Children, listen to the instruction of a father, and be attentive in order to know insight.

4:2  For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.

4:3  When I was a son to my father, tender and alone before my mother,

4:4  he taught me and said to me, “May your heart hold fast to my words; guard my commandments and live.

4:5  Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

4:6  Do not forsake her—then she will guard you; love her and she will keep you.

4:7  The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

4:8  Cherish her and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

4:9  She will give a garland for your head; she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

4:10  Listen, my child, take my sayings, and the years of your life shall be great.

4:11  In the way of wisdom I have instructed you; I have led you in the path of uprightness.

4:12  ⌞When you walk⌟, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.

4:13  Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.

4:14  In the path of the wicked do not go; do not walk in the way of those who do evil.

4:15  Avoid it; do not transgress it; turn away from it and pass by.

4:16  For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.

4:17  For they ate the bread of wickedness, and they drank the wine of violence.

4:18  But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day ⌞is full⌟.

4:19  The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

4:20  My child, be attentive to my words; to my sayings incline your ear.

4:21  May they not escape from your ⌞sight⌟; keep them in the midst of your heart.

4:22  For they are life to those who find them and healing ⌞to the entire body⌟.

4:23  With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it comes the source of life.

4:24  Remove from yourself ⌞deceitful speech⌟, and abolish ⌞devious talk⌟ from yourself.

4:25  May your eyes look forward and your gaze be straight before you.

4:26  May the path of your foot be balanced and all your ways be sure.

4:27  Do not swerve right or left; remove your foot from evil.