Chapter Four

Listen, my son, when your father instructs you.  Pay attention that you may gain understanding, for I am giving you sound guidance.  Therefore, do not ignore my teaching.  For I, too, was my father’s son, callow, and, in my mother’s eyes, her favorite child.  Teaching me, he said, “Your mind must retain my words.  Obey my commandments and live.  Acquire wisdom.  Gain understanding.  Do not forget my words or reject them.  Do not forsake wisdom, for she will preserve you.  Respect her and she will watch over you.   Wisdom is the most important thing — get wisdom and, whatever it may cost, get understanding.  Prize it and she will exalt you.  Embrace her and she will honor you.  She will place upon your head a garland of grace and deliver to you a crown of glory.”

Listen to me, my son, accept my words, and the years of your life will be many.  I will teach you the way of wisdom and lead you along the path of the upright.  When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.  Hold on to instruction; do not let it go.  Guard it, for it is your life.  Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk on the road used by evil men.  Avoid it.  Do not tread upon it.  Turn away from it and pass it by.  Evil men will not sleep until they can do some mischief; sleep is snatched away from them unless they can make someone stumble.  They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.  The path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines brighter and brighter until midday.  But the way of the wicked is like utter darkness; they do not even know over what they stumble.

Pay attention, my son, to what I say.  Tune your ear to my words.  Do not lose sight of them; inscribe them upon your heart.  For they bring life to those who discover them and bring health to one’s whole body.  Above all, conserve your mind, for from it flows the springs of life.  Shun deceitful language and stay far away from devious talk.  Let your eyes look directly before you and fix your gaze straight ahead.  Ponder the path your feet may take, and then all your ways will be secure.  Do not be diverted to the right or to the left — turn away your foot from evil.