4
Security in Wisdom
1Hear, ⚓my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
2For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
3When I was my father’s son,
⚓Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4⚓He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
⚓Keep my commands, and live.
5⚓Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
⚓Love her, and she will keep you.
7⚓Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8⚓Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9She will place on your head ⚓an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
⚓And the years of your life will be many.
11I have ⚓taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12When you walk, ⚓your steps will not be hindered,
⚓And when you run, you will not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
14⚓Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16⚓For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18⚓But the path of the just ⚓is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19⚓The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
20My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of ⚓life.
24Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26Ponder the path of your ⚓feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.