Proverbs 4

1 hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding 2 for i give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law 3 for i was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother 4 he taught me also, and said unto me, let thine heart retain my words keep my commandments, and live 5 get wisdom, get understanding forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth 6 forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee love her, and she shall keep thee 7 wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding 8 exalt her, and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her 9 she shall give to thine head an ornament of grace a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee 10 hear, o my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many 11 i have taught thee in the way of wisdom; i have led thee in right paths 12 when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble 13 take fast hold of instruction; let her not go keep her; for she is thy life 14 enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men 15 avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away 16 for they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall 17 for they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence 18 but the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day 19 the way of the wicked is as darkness they know not at what they stumble 20 my son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings 21 let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart 22 for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh 23 keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life 24 put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee 25 let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee 26 ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established 27 turn not to the right hand nor to the left remove thy foot from evil