1 | Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge: |
2 | For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me. |
3 | For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother. |
4 | And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life: |
5 | Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth. |
6 | Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe. |
7 | The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge. |
8 | Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love. |
9 | She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory. |
10 | Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours. |
11 | I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way. |
12 | When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall. |
13 | Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life. |
14 | Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men. |
15 | Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way. |
16 | For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall. |
17 | The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink. |
18 | But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day. |
19 | The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall. |
20 | My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings. |
21 | Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart. |
22 | For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh. |
23 | And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life. |
24 | Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you. |
25 | Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you. |
26 | Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered. |
27 | Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil. |
Proverbs 04
