Proverbs Chapter 4

{4:1} Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

{4:2} For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

{4:3} For I was my father's son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother.

{4:4} He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

{4:5} Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

{4:6} Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

{4:7} Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

{4:8} Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

{4:9} She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

{4:10} Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

{4:11} I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

{4:12} When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

{4:13} Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] thy life.

{4:14} Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men. ]

{4:15} Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

{4:16} For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.

{4:17} For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

{4:18} But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

{4:19} The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

{4:20} My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

{4:21} Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

{4:22} For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

{4:23} Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.

{4:24} Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

{4:25} Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

{4:26} Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

{4:27} Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.