Proverbs 4:1-9

New American Standard Bible

4 Listen, my sons, to the ^(A)instruction of a father,
And ^(B)pay attention so that you may ^[a]gain understanding,
² For I give you good ^(C)teaching;
^(D)Do not abandon my ^[b]instruction.
³ When I was a son to my father,
^(E)Tender and ^(F)the only son in the sight of my mother,
⁴ He ^(G)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart ^(H)take hold of my words;
^(I)Keep my commandments and live;
^5 (J)Acquire wisdom! ^(K)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
^(L)Love her, and she will watch over you.
^7 (M)The ^[c]beginning of wisdom is: ^(N)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
^8 (O)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
⁹ She will place ^(P)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”