Proverbs 4:1-13

Common English Bible

4 Hear, children, fatherly instruction;
    pay attention to gain understanding.
² I’ll teach you well.
    Don’t abandon my instruction.
³ When I was a son to my father,
    tender and my mother’s favorite,
⁴     he taught me and said to me:
“Let your heart hold on to my words:
    Keep my commands and live.
⁵ Get wisdom; get understanding.
    Don’t forget and don’t turn away from my words.
⁶ Don’t abandon her, and she will guard you.
    Love her, and she will protect you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom:
Get wisdom!
    Get understanding before anything else.
⁸ Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you.
    She will honor you if you embrace her.
⁹ She will place a graceful wreath on your head;
    she will give you a glorious crown.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, and take in my speech,
    then the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I teach you the path of wisdom.
    I lead you in straight courses.
¹² When you walk, you won’t be hindered;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.
¹³ Hold on to instruction; don’t slack off;
    protect it, for it is your life.