Proverbs 4:8-17

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.