4 ¹ Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive,
that you may gain insight;
4 ² for I give you good precepts:
do not forsake my teaching.
4 ³ When I was a son with my father, tender,
the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 ⁴ he taught me, and said to me,
"Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live;
4 ⁵ do not forget,
and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom;
get insight.
4 ⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
4 ⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this:
Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
4 ⁸ Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honour you if you embrace her.
4 ⁹ She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."

4 ¹⁰ Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
4 ¹¹ I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
4 ¹² When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
4 ¹³ Keep hold of instruction, do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
4 ¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evil men.
4 ¹⁵ Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
4 ¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble.
4 ¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
4 ¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
4 ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.

4 ²⁰ My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
4 ²¹ Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
4 ²² For they are life to him who finds them,
and healing to all his flesh.
4 ²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance;
for from it flow the springs of life.
4 ²⁴ Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
4 ²⁵ Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
4 ²⁶ Take heed to the path of your feet,
then all your ways will be sure.
4 ²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.