Proverbs 4:8-27

⁸Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honour 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.

²⁰My son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:

²¹that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in your heart.

²²For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

²³Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.

²⁴Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.

²⁵Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent to just things.

²⁶Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.

²⁷Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way: for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked: and he will make your ways straight, and will guide your steps in peace.