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 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 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 graceful 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 the evil. 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 someone 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 those who find them, and healing to all their 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 Ponder 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.