Proverbs 4 — ULB

4Verse 1Listen, sons, to a father's instruction,
and pay attention so you will know what understanding is.
^{Verse 2}I am giving you good instructions;
do not forsake my teaching.
^{Verse 3}When I was a son of my father,
the tender and only child of my mother,
^{Verse 4}he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast to my words;
keep my commands and live.
^{Verse 5}Acquire wisdom and understanding;
do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;
^{Verse 6}do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you;
love her and she will keep you safe.
^{Verse 7}Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom
and spend all you own so you can get understanding.
^{Verse 8}Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you;
she will honor you when you embrace her.
^{Verse 9}She will put a wreath of honor on your head;
she will give you a beautiful crown.”
^{Verse 10}Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words,
and you will have many years in your life.
^{Verse 11}I direct you in the way of wisdom;
I lead you down straight paths.
^{Verse 12}When you walk, no one will stand in your way
and if you run, you will not stumble.
^{Verse 13}Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it, for it is your life.
^{Verse 14}Do not follow the path of the wicked
and do not go along the way of those who do evil.
^{Verse 15}Avoid it, do not go on it;
turn away from it and go another way.
^{Verse 16}For they cannot sleep until they do evil
and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.
^{Verse 17}For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
^{Verse 18}But the path of righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter;
it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes.
^{Verse 19}The way of the wicked is like darkness—
they do not know what it is they stumble over.
^{Verse 20}My son, pay attention to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
^{Verse 21}Do not let them turn away from your eyes;
keep them in your heart.
^{Verse 22}For my words are life to those who find them
and health to their whole body.
^{Verse 23}Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence,
for from it flow the springs of life.
^{Verse 24}Put crooked speech away from you
and put corrupt talk far from you.
^{Verse 25}Let your eyes look straight ahead
and fix your gaze straight before you.
^{Verse 26}Make a level path for your foot;
then all your ways will be secure.
^{Verse 27}Do not turn aside to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.