Proverbs 4:7-20

⁷The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom, and with all thy possession purchase prudence.

⁸Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her.

⁹She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a noble crown.

¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be multiplied to thee.

¹¹I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths of equity:

¹²Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest thou shalt not meet a stumblingblock.

¹³Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is thy life.

¹⁴Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way of evil men please thee.

¹⁵Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it.

¹⁶For they sleep not except they have done evil: and their sleep is taken away unless they have made some to fall.

¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity.

¹⁸But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards and increaseth even to perfect day.

¹⁹The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall.

²⁰My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.