4:1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight;
4:1 Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight;

4:2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.
4:2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.

4:3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4:3 When I was a son with my father, tender, and my mother's favorite,

4:4 he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live;
4:4 he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.

4:5 do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom; get insight.
4:5 Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight.

4:8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
4:8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

4:9 She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
4:9 She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."

4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
4:10 Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.

4:11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
4:11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

4:12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.
4:12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.

4:13 Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
4:13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men.
4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers.

4:15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
4:15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.

4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble.
4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.

4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

4:19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
4:19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

4:20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
4:20 My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

4:21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.
4:21 Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.

4:22 For they are life to him who finds them, and healing to all his flesh.
4:22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.

4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.
4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

4:24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
4:24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

4:25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
4:25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

4:26 Take heed to the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure.
4:26 Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

4:27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
4:27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.