Proverbs 4:17-27

English Standard Version

¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness
    ^(A)and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸But ^(B)the path of the righteous is like ^(C)the light of dawn,
    which shines ^(D)brighter and brighter until ^(E)full day.
¹⁹^(F)The way of the wicked is like deep ^(G)darkness;
    they do not know over what they ^(H)stumble.

²⁰^(I)My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹^(J)Let them not escape from your sight;
    ^(K)keep them within your heart.
²²For they are ^(L)life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their^[a] flesh.
²³Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for ^(M)from it flow ^(N)the springs of life.
²⁴Put away from you ^(O)crooked speech,
    and put ^(P)devious talk far from you.
²⁵^(Q)Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
²⁶^(R)Ponder^[b] the path of your feet;
    ^(S)then all your ways will be sure.
²⁷^(T)Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.