4:1  Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight;

4:2  for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.

4:3  When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

4:4  he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live;

4:5  do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom; get insight.

4:6  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

4:7  The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

4:8  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

4:9  She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."

4:10  Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.

4:11  I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

4:12  When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.

4:13  Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

4:14  Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men.

4:15  Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.

4:16  For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble.

4:17  For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

4:18  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

4:19  The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

4:20  My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

4:21  Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.

4:22  For they are life to him who finds them, and healing to all his flesh.

4:23  Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.

4:24  Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

4:25  Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

4:26  Take heed to the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure.

4:27  Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.