Seeking Wisdom Together – Proverbs 4, 1-27            Text- Proverbs 4-1-9 Title- Fatherly Instructions (Youth)

Proverbs 4

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Father’s Wise Instruction

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

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