4
1 Listen,
sons, to a
father’s instruction.
Pay attention and
know understanding;
2 for
I give you
sound learning.
Don’t forsake my
law.
3 For
I was a
son to my
father,
tender and an
only child in
the sight of
my mother.
4 He
taught me, and
said to me:
“Let your heart
retain my words.
Keep my
commandments, and
live.
5 Get
wisdom.
Get understanding.
Don’t forget, and don’t deviate
from the words
of my mouth.
6 Don’t forsake
her, and she will
preserve you.
Love her, and she
will keep you.
7 Wisdom
is supreme.
Get wisdom.
Yes, though it costs all
your possessions,
get understanding.
8 Esteem
her, and she
will exalt you.
She will bring
you to honor
when you embrace
her.
9 She will
give to your
head a garland
of grace.
She will deliver
a crown of
splendor to you.”
10 Listen,
my son, and
receive my sayings.
The years of
your life will
be many.
11 I have
taught you in
the way of
wisdom.
I have led you
in straight paths.
12 When you
go, your steps
will not
be hampered.
When you run, you
will not stumble.
13 Take
firm hold of
instruction.
Don’t let her go.
Keep her, for
she is your
life.
14 Don’t enter into
the path of
the wicked.
Don’t walk in the
way of evil
men.
15 Avoid
it, and don’t pass
by it.
Turn from it,
and pass on.
16 For
they don’t sleep
unless they do
evil.
Their sleep is
taken away, unless
they make someone
fall.
17 For
they eat the
bread of wickedness
and drink the
wine of violence.
18 But
the path of the
righteous is like
the dawning light
that shines more
and more until
the perfect day.
19 The
way of the
wicked is
like darkness.
They don’t know
what they stumble
over.
20 My
son, attend to
my words.
Turn your ear to
my sayings.
21 Let
them not depart
from your eyes.
Keep them in
the center of
your heart.
22 For
they are life
to those who
find them,
and health to
their whole body.
23 Keep
your heart with
all diligence,
for out of
it is
the wellspring of
life.
24 Put
away from yourself
a perverse mouth.
Put corrupt lips
far from you.
25 Let
your eyes look
straight ahead.
Fix your gaze
directly before
you.
26 Make
the path of
your feet level.
Let all of your
ways be
established.
27 Don’t turn
to the right
hand nor to
the left.
Remove your foot
from evil.