Proverbs 4

Revised Geneva Translation

4 Hear, O children, the instruction of a father. And give ear to learn understanding.

² For I do give you a good doctrine. Therefore, do not forsake my law.

³ For I was my father’s son, tender and dear in the sight of my mother,

⁴ when he taught me, and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words. Keep my commandments, and you shall live.

⁵ “Get wisdom. Get understanding. Neither forget nor decline from the words of my mouth.

⁶ “Do not forsake her, and she shall keep you. Love her and she shall preserve you.

⁷ “Wisdom is the beginning. Therefore, get wisdom. And above all your possessions, get understanding.

⁸ “Exalt her, and she shall exalt you. She shall bring you to honor, if you embrace her.

⁹ “She shall give a comely ornament to your head. Indeed, she shall give you a crown of glory.

¹⁰ “Hear, my son, and receive my words. And the years of your life shall be many.

¹¹ “I have taught you in the way of wisdom and led you in the paths of righteousness.

¹² “When you go, your gait shall not be distressed. And when you run, you shall not fall.

¹³ “Take hold of instruction, and do not let go. Keep her, for she is your life.

¹⁴ “Do not enter into the way of the wicked. And do not walk in the way of evil.

¹⁵ “Avoid it. Do not go by it. Turn from it, and pass by.

¹⁶ “For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil. And their sleep departs unless they cause some to fall.

¹⁷ “For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ “But the way of the righteous shines, as the light that shines more and more until the perfect Day.

¹⁹ “The way of the wicked is as the darkness. They do not know wherein they shall fall.

²⁰ “My son, listen to my words. Incline your ear to my sayings.

²¹ “Do not let them depart from your eyes. But keep them in the midst of your heart.

²² “For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

²³ “Keep your heart with all diligence. For out of it comes life.

²⁴ “Put away from you a perverse mouth. And put wicked lips far from you.

²⁵ “Let your eyes behold the right. And let your eyelids direct your way before you.

²⁶ “Ponder the path of your feet. And let all your ways be ordered aright.

²⁷ “Do not turn to the right hand or to the left. Remove your foot from evil.”