1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. 3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, 4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. 8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. 9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.” 10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many. 11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life. 14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. 15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. 19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble. 20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body. 23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life. 24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech. 25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. 26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Proverbs 4:1–27
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 3:1–2
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
Proverbs 3:20–22
20 By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew. 21 My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment. 22 They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
Proverbs 7:1–2
1 My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. 2 Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Proverbs 2:19–21
19 None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life. 20 So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
Proverbs 23:18–20
18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. 19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course. 20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
Sirach 6:22–24
22 For wisdom is according to her name. She isn’t manifest to many. (WEB) 23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgment. Don’t refuse my counsel. (WEB) 24 Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain. (WEB)
Sirach 16:23–25
23 He who is lacking in understanding thinks about these things. An unwise and erring man thinks foolishly. (WEB) 24 My son, listen to me, learn knowledge, and heed my words with your heart. (WEB) 25 I will impart instruction with precision, and declare knowledge exactly. (WEB)
Proverbs 2:1–2
1 My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, 2 if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
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