Proverbs 4

1 “Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may know reflection.

2 For I give you a good gift; do not abandon my law.

3 I too was an obedient son to my father and was loved in my mother’s sight.

4 They would say as they taught me.”

“Let our word rest firmly in your heart.

5 Keep the commands. Do not forget or disregard a word from my mouth.

6 Do not abandon Wisdom, and she will hold on to you. Love her, and she will guard you.

8 Surround her securely, and she will exalt you. Honor her, so that she may embrace you

9 and give your head a crown of favor; she will shield you with a crown of delight.”

10 “Listen, my son, and receive my words. The years of your life will increase, so that you may have many paths of life.

11 For I teach you ways of wisdom and lead you onto straight tracks.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be confined; when you run, you will not grow weary.

13 Take hold of my instruction. Do not let it go, but keep it for your life.

14 Do not enter the roads of the ungodly or envy the ways of lawbreakers.

15 Wherever they pitch camp, do not go there. Turn away from them and pass by.

16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, and they do not rest.

17 They feed on the bread of ungodliness and become drunk on the wine of lawbreaking.

18 But the ways of the righteous shine like light. They move forward and give light until the day reaches its fullness.

19 The ways of the ungodly are dark; they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to my declaration and incline your ear to my words,

21 so that your springs may not fail you. Guard these words in your heart,

22 for they are life to those who find them and healing to all flesh.

23 Guard your heart with every safeguard, for from it flow the outlets of life.

24 Remove a crooked mouth from yourself, and thrust unjust lips far away from you.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids incline toward righteous things.

26 Make straight tracks for your feet, and direct your ways.

27 Do not turn aside to the right or the left, but turn your foot away from an evil road. God knows the roads on the right, but those on the left are twisted. He will make your tracks straight and lead your journeys forward in peace.”