NET Bible

Admonition to Follow Righteousness and Avoid Wickedness1

^4:1 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment. ^4:2 Because I hereby give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching. ^4:3 When I was a son to my father, a tender, only child before my mother, ^4:4 he taught me, and he said to me: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live. ^4:5 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. ^4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. ^4:7 Wisdom is supreme —so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! ^4:8 Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. ^4:9 She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you.” ^4:10 Listen, my child, and accept my words so that the years of your life will be many. ^4:11 I hereby guide you in the way of wisdom, and I lead you in upright paths. ^4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble. ^4:13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life. ^4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil. ^4:15 Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on. ^4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble. ^4:17 Indeed they have eaten bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. ^4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day. ^4:19 The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what they stumble over. ^4:20 My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. ^4:21 Do not let them depart from your sight; guard them within your heart, ^4:22 for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body. ^4:23 Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. ^4:24 Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips. ^4:25 Let your eyes look directly in front of you, and let your gaze look straight before you. ^4:26 Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established. ^4:27 Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil.