4:1 Listen, my sons, to the instruction of a father,
And pay attention so that you may ①gain understanding,
▷ ①Lit know
4:2 For I give you good teaching;
Do not abandon my ①instruction.
▷ ①Or law
4:3 When I was a son to my father,
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4:4 He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart take hold of my words;
Keep my commandments and live;
4:5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
4:6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
4:7 The ①beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
▷ ①Or primary thing is wisdom
4:8 Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
4:9 She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
4:10 Listen, my son, and accept my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
4:11 I have instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
4:13 Take 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 proceed in the way of evil people.
4:15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And ①they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
▷ ①Lit their sleep is robbed
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
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
4:19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they ①stumble.
▷ ①Or may stumble
4:20 My son, pay attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
4:21 They are not to escape from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
4:22 For they are life to those who find them,
And healing to all ①their body.
▷ ①Lit his
4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
4:24 Rid yourself of a deceitful mouth
And keep devious ①speech far from you.
▷ ①Or lips
4:25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your ①gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
▷ ①Or eyelids
4:26 ①Watch the path of your feet,
And all your ways will be established.
▷ ①I.e., prob. stay on the path
4:27 Do not turn to the right or to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.