Proverbs 4

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

4 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain^[a] insight,^(A)
2 for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
³ When I was a son with my father,
    tender and my mother’s favorite,^(B)
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments and live.^(C)
5 Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away
    from the words of my mouth.^(D)
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.^(E)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.^(F)
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.^(G)
9 She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”^(H)

¹⁰ Hear, my child, and accept my words,
    that the years of your life may be many.
¹¹ I have taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.^(I)
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.^(J)
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of evildoers.^(K)
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.^(L)
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.^(M)
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what they stumble over.^(N)
20 My child, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Do not let them escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.^(O)
22 For they are life to those who find them
    and healing to all their flesh.^(P)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.^(Q)
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.^(R)
25 Let your eyes look directly forward
    and your gaze be straight before you.
²⁶ Keep straight the path of your feet,
    and all your ways will be sure.^(S)
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.^(T)