Proverbs 4:1-9

Revised Standard Version

4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain^[a] insight;
² for I give you good precepts:
    do not forsake my teaching.
³ When I was a son with my father,
    tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
⁴ he taught me, and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments, and live;
⁵ do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
    Get wisdom; get insight.^[b]
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get insight.
⁸ Prize her highly,^[c] and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
⁹ She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”