4:2 Because I give 1 you good instruction, 2
do not forsake my teaching.
4:3 When I was a son to my father, 3
a tender only child 4 before my mother,
4:4 he taught me, and he said to me:
“Let your heart lay hold of my words;
keep my commands so that 5 you will live.
4:5 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding;
do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. 6
4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, 7 and she will protect you;
love her, and she will guard you.
4:7 Wisdom is supreme 8 – so 9 acquire wisdom,
and whatever you acquire, 10 acquire understanding! 11
4:8 Esteem her highly 12 and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
4:9 She will place a fair 13 garland on your head;
she will bestow 14 a beautiful crown 15 on you.”
4:10 Listen, my child, 16 and accept my words,
so that 17 the years of your life will be many. 18
4:11 I will guide you 19 in the way of wisdom
and I will lead you in upright paths. 20
4:12 When you walk, your steps 21 will not be hampered, 22
and when you run, 23 you will not stumble.
4:13 Hold on to instruction, 24 do not let it go;
protect it, 25 because it is your life.
4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked
or walk 26 in the way of those who are evil.
4:15 Avoid it, do not go on it;
turn away from it, and go on. 27
4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; 28
they are robbed of sleep 29 until they make someone stumble. 30
4:17 For they eat bread 31 gained from wickedness 32
and drink wine obtained from violence. 33
4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, 34
growing brighter and brighter 35 until full day. 36
4:19 The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; 37
they do not know what causes them to stumble. 38
4:20 My child, pay attention to my words;
listen attentively 39 to my sayings.
4:21 Do not let them depart 40 from your sight,
guard 41 them within your heart; 42
4:22 for they are life to those who find them
and healing to one’s entire body. 43
4:23 Guard your heart with all vigilance, 44
for from it are the sources 45 of life.
4:24 Remove perverse speech 46 from your mouth; 47
keep devious talk far from your lips. 48
4:25 Let your eyes look directly 49 in front of you
and let your gaze 50 look straight before you.
4:26 Make the path for your feet 51 level, 52
so that 53 all your ways may be established. 54
4:27 Do not turn 55 to the right or to the left;
turn yourself 56 away from evil. 57