Proverbs 4 — MSB
4Verse 1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.Verse 2For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.Verse 3When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,Verse 4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.Verse 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.Verse 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.Verse 7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.Verse 8Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.Verse 9She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”Verse 10Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.Verse 11I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.Verse 12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.Verse 13Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.Verse 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.Verse 15Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.Verse 16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.Verse 17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.Verse 18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.Verse 19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.Verse 20My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.Verse 21Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.Verse 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.Verse 23Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.Verse 24Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.Verse 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.Verse 26Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.Verse 27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.