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