Proverbs chapter 4 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
And be attentive, that you may gain insight. For I give you
good precepts, Do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son
with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words,
keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get insight, do not
forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do
not forsake her and she will keep you. Love her and she will
guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this. Get wisdom and whatever you get,
get insight. Prize her highly and she will
exalt you. She will honor you if you embrace
her. She will place on your head a
graceful garland. she will bestow on you a beautiful
crown. Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the
way of wisdom. I have led you in the paths of
uprightness. When you walk, your step will
not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold
of instruction. Do not let go. Guard her, for
she is your life. Do not enter the path of the
wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it. Do not go on it. Turn away from
it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless
they have done wrong. They are robbed of sleep unless
they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous
is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter
until full day. The way of the wicked is like
deep darkness. They do not know over what they
stumble. My son, be attentive to my words. Incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your
sight. Keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who
find them. and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked
speech and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look
directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder
the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure. Do not
swerve to the right or to the left. Turn your foot away from
evil. you