4:1 Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:

4:2 For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.

4:3 For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.

4:4 And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:

4:5 Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.

4:6 Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.

4:7 The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.

4:8 Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.

4:9 She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.

4:10 Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.

4:11 I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.

4:12 When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.

4:13 Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.

4:14 Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.

4:15 Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.

4:16 For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.

4:17 The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.

4:18 But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.

4:19 The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.

4:20 My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.

4:21 Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.

4:22 For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.

4:23 And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.

4:24 Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.

4:25 Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.

4:26 Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.