Proverbs 4:3-19

³For I also was a son obedient to my father, and loved in the sight of my mother:

⁴who spoke and instructed me, saying, Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep our commandments, forget them not:

⁵and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.

⁶And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.

⁸Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honor it, that it may embrace you;

⁹that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.

¹⁰Hear, my son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.

¹¹For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.

¹²For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.

¹³Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.

¹⁴Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.

¹⁵In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.

¹⁶For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.

¹⁷For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.

¹⁸But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.

¹⁹But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.