Proverbs 4:10-27

English Standard Version

^10 (A)Hear, ^(B)my son, and accept my words,
    that ^(C)the years of your life may be many.
¹¹ I have ^(D)taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
¹² When you walk, ^(E)your step will not be hampered,
    and ^(F)if you run, you will not stumble.
^13 (G)Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your ^(H)life.
^14 (I)Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil.
¹⁵ Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
¹⁶ For they ^(J)cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness
    ^(K)and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸ But ^(L)the path of the righteous is like ^(M)the light of dawn,
    which shines ^(N)brighter and brighter until ^(O)full day.
^19 (P)The way of the wicked is like deep ^(Q)darkness;
    they do not know over what they ^(R)stumble.

^20 (S)My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
^21 (T)Let them not escape from your sight;
    ^(U)keep them within your heart.
²² For they are ^(V)life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their^[a] flesh.
²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for ^(W)from it flow ^(X)the springs of life.
²⁴ Put away from you ^(Y)crooked speech,
    and put ^(Z)devious talk far from you.
^25 (AA)Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
^26 (AB)Ponder^[b] the path of your feet;
    ^(AC)then all your ways will be sure.
^27 (AD)Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.