Proverbs 4
1HEAR, O children, the instructions of a father; and attend to know the meaning:
2for I am giving you a good gift; forsake not my law:
3for I was a son obedient to a father; and beloved in the sight of a mother:
4and they said when they taught me: Let our words sink deep in thy heart.
5Keep our commandments; do not forget—overlook not the dictate of my mouth:
6forsake it not, and it will defend thee:
7love it and it will preserve thee:
8secure it and it will exalt thee: honour it that it may embrace thee:
9that it may be to thy head a crown of graces and cover thee with a crown of pleasure.
10Hear, my son, and receive my words; that, when the years of thy life shall be multiplied, thou mayst have many means of a livelihood:
11for I am teaching thee ways of wisdom and confirming thee in right paths.
12For when thou goest, thy steps will not be straitened: and when thou runnest thou shalt not be tired.
13Take fast hold of mine instruction, let it not go: but keep it for thyself during thy life.
14Go not in the ways of wicked men, nor be fond of the ways of transgressors.
15In what place soever they encamp, go not thither: but turn away from them and keep at a distance,
16for they cannot sleep. Unless they do evil their sleep is taken from them, and they cannot lie down to rest.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink plentifully of the wine of violence.
18But the paths of the just shine like light; shining more and more until it is perfect day.
19But the ways of the wicked being dark, they know not at what they stumble.
20Attend, my son, to my speech, and incline thine ear to my words.
21That thy fountains may not fail thee, keep them in thy heart;
22for they are life to them who find them, and health to all flesh.
23Guard thy heart with all diligence; for out of these are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put perverse lips far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look straight forward and thine eyelids wink justly.
26Make straight paths with thy feet and order all thy ways right.
27Turn not to the right, nor the left; but turn away thy foot from an evil way; for God knoweth the ways on the right, but those on the left are crooked. But he will make thy paths straight and conduct thy steps in peace.