Proverbs 4:5-17

⁵Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;

⁶do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you; love her and she will keep you safe.

⁷Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom and spend all you own so you can get understanding.

⁸Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.

⁹She will put a wreath of honor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown.”

¹⁰Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words, and you will have many years in your life.

¹¹I direct you in the way of wisdom; I lead you down straight paths.

¹²When you walk, no one will stand in your way and if you run, you will not stumble.

¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it, for it is your life.

¹⁴Do not follow the path of the wicked and do not go along the way of those who do evil.

¹⁵Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it and go another way.

¹⁶For they cannot sleep until they do evil and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.

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