Noyes - Proverbs - 4

4:1  Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn understanding!

4:2  For I give you good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.

4:3  For I was my father’s son, A tender and only child in the sight of my mother.

4:4  He taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, and live.

4:5  Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.

4:6  Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.

4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain understanding.

4:8  Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her;

4:9  She will give to thy head a graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.

4:10  Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.

4:11  I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.

4:12  When thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

4:13  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; Keep her, for she is thy life.

4:14  Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men;

4:15  Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.

4:16  For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to fall.

4:17  For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

4:18  But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

4:19  The way of the wicked is as thick darkness; They know not at what they stumble.

4:20  My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;

4:21  Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart!

4:22  For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

4:23  More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.

4:24  Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.

4:25  Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.

4:26  Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.

4:27  Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.