Proverbs 4

Tree of Life Version

4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction.
Pay attention, to gain understanding.
² For I give you sound learning—
do not forsake my instruction.
³ When I was a son to my father,
tender and special to my mother,
⁴ he taught me and said to me:
    “Lay hold of my words in your heart,
    keep my commands and you will live!
⁵ Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will guard you.
    Love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ Wisdom is supreme—acquire wisdom!
    With all your acquisitions, get understanding.
⁸ Prize her, and she will exalt you.
    She will honor you when you embrace her.
⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head.
    She will give you a crown of glory.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, and accept my words,
so the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I instructed you in the way of wisdom.
I have guided you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your step will not be hindered,
and when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Hold on tightly to instruction, do not let it go—
guard it, for it is your life.
¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil people.
¹⁵ Avoid it—do not travel on it—
turn away from it and pass by.
¹⁶ For they cannot sleep until they do evil.
They are robbed of sleep until they make someone fall.
¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until the full day.
¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness.
They do not know what makes them stumble.
²⁰ My son, pay attention to my words—
incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart.
²² For they are life to those who find them
and health to their whole body.
²³ Guard your heart diligently,
for from it flow the springs of life.
²⁴ Put away perversity from your mouth,
and keep devious lips far from you.
²⁵ Let your eyes look directly ahead,
and fix your gaze straight in front of you.
²⁶ Clear a level path for your feet,
so all your ways will be firm.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or to the left.
Divert your foot from evil.