Proverbs 4

Children, hear a father's instruction, and pay attention in order to know reflection;

For I give you a good gift; do not forsake my law.

For I too was a son obedient to a father, and beloved in the sight of a mother.

They taught me and said: "Let our word be fixed in your heart;

Keep the commandments; do not forget, and do not disregard the utterance of my mouth.

Do not forsake her, and she will hold fast to you; love her, and she will keep you.

Fence her about, and she will exalt you; honor her, that she may embrace you,

That she may set on your head a crown of graces, and shield you with a crown of delight.

Hear, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be multiplied, that many ways of living may be yours;

For I teach you the ways of wisdom, and set you upon straight tracks.

For when you walk, your steps will not be hemmed in; and when you run, you will not grow weary.

Take hold of my instruction, do not let it go, but keep it for yourself unto your life.

Do not go upon the ways of the ungodly, nor envy the ways of the lawless.

Wherever they encamp, do not go there; turn aside from them and pass by another way;

For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil; their sleep is taken away, and they do not rest.

For these feed on the bread of ungodliness and are drunk with lawless wine.

But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go forward and give light until the day is fully established;

But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they do not know how they stumble.

My son, attend to my utterance, and incline your ear to my words,

So that your springs may not fail you; keep them within your heart.

For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all flesh.

Guard your heart with all vigilance, for out of these are the outgoings of life.

Put away from yourself a crooked mouth, and thrust unjust lips far from you.

Let your eyes look on what is straight, and let your eyelids signal what is just.

Make straight tracks for your feet, and direct your ways aright.

Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from the evil way. For God knows the ways on the right, but those on the left are crooked. He himself will make your tracks straight, and will lead your goings forward in peace.