Proverbs 4

A Father’s Advice

1 Listen up, my kids, hear your pops’ game, pay attention so you can get smart.

2 I am giving you solid teaching, do not ditch my words.

3 When I was just a young one, only child under my mama’s wing.

4 My pops schooled me, “Hold on tight to my words, keep my commands and live.”

5 “Snatch wisdom, grab understanding; do not forget it, do not turn your back on it.”

6 “Do not ditch wisdom, she will guard you; love her, and she will hold you down.”

7 First thing about wisdom, Go get it. Spend all you got to get understanding.

8 Prize her, and she will lift you up; embrace her, and she will crown you with honor.

9 She is going to place a fresh crown on your head, drop glory on your life.

10 Hear me out, son, take in my words; years of life going to multiply for you.

11 I show you the straight path, I guide you on the right hustle.

12 When you walk, you will not stumble; when you run, you will not trip.

13 Lock down on instruction, do not let go, guard it, because it is your life.

14 Do not step on the path of the wicked, do not walk with the haters.

15 Dodge it, swerve it, do not go near, keep moving past.

16 They cannot even sleep unless they did some dirt; rest gets stolen till they cause somebody to fall.

17 They eating bread of wickedness, drinking wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous, Like sunrise shining brighter till it hits full day.

19 But the wicked’s way is dark, they tripping and do not even know why.

20 Pay attention to my words, son, keep your ear on my sayings.

21 Do not let them bounce from your sight; tattoo them on your heart.

22 They life for those who catch them, healing for the whole body.

23 Above all else, guard your heart, because everything you do flows from it.

24 Keep your mouth from dirt talk, your lips from twisted speech.

25 Lock your eyes straight ahead, fix your gaze forward.

26 Map out the path of your feet, stay solid on your way.

27 Do not swing right or left, swerve your foot away from evil.