Proverbs 4:1-12 ▼

1 Listen, sons, to the discipline of a father, and pay attention, so that you may know prudence.

2 I will bestow upon you a good gift. Do not relinquish my law.

3 For I, too, was the son of my father, tender and an only son in the sight of my mother.

4 And he taught me, and he also said: “Let your heart accept my words. Keep my precepts, and you shall live.

5 Obtain wisdom, obtain prudence. May you neither forget, nor turn away from, the words of my mouth.

6 Do not send her away, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will preserve you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is to obtain wisdom, and, with all that you possess, to acquire prudence.

8 Grasp her, and she will exalt you. You will be glorified by her, when you have embraced her.

9 She will bestow upon your head an increase in graces, and she will protect you with a noble crown.

10 Listen, my son, and accept my words, so that years of life may be multiplied for you.

11 I will demonstrate to you the way of wisdom. I will lead you along the paths of equity.

12 When you have entered by these, your steps will not be constrained, and when running, you will have no obstacle.