(KJV) Proverbs 4¹

⥃A Father’s Instruction

[1] Hear, ye² children, the instruction of a father, and attend³ to know understanding. [2] For I give you good⁴ doctrine, forsake⁵ ye not my law. [3] For I was my father’s son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother.⁶ [4] He⁷ taught me also, and said unto me, Let⁸ thine heart retain my words: keep⁹ my commandments, and live. [5] Get wisdom¹⁰, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither¹¹ decline from the words of my mouth. [6] Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love¹² her, and she shall keep thee. [7] Wisdom [is¹³] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with¹⁴ all thy getting get understanding¹⁵. [8] Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.¹⁶ [9] She shall give¹⁷ to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown¹⁸ of glory shall she deliver to thee. [10] Hear, O my¹⁹ son, and receive my sayings; and the²⁰ years of thy life shall be many. [11] I have taught²¹ thee in the way of wisdom; I have led²² thee in right paths. [12] When thou goest²³, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt²⁴ not stumble. [13] Take²⁵ fast hold of instruction; let²⁶ [her] not go: keep her; for she²⁷ [is] thy life.

[14] Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men].²⁸ [15] Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.²⁹ [16] For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.³⁰ [17] For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.³¹ [18] But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.³² [19] The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.³³

[20] My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.³⁴ [21] Let them not depart³⁵ from thine eyes; keep them in the³⁶ midst of thine heart. [22] For they [are] life³⁷ unto those that find them, and health³⁸ to all their flesh.

[23] [¶]Keep³⁹ thy heart with all diligence⁴⁰; for⁴¹ out of it [are] the issues of life. [24] Put⁴² a⁴³way from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. [25] Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.⁴⁴ [26] Ponder⁴⁵ the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established⁴⁶. [27] Turn⁴⁷ not to the right hand nor to the left: remove⁴⁸ thy foot from evil.