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