LEB PRO Chapter 4

The Father’s Wisdom

• and be attentive in order to know insight.
• 2 For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.
• 3 When I was a son to my father, tender and alone before my mother,
• 4 he taught me and said to me, “May your heart hold fast to my words;
• guard my commandments and live.
• 5 Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
• 6 Do not forsake her—then she will guard you; love her and she will keep you.
• 7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
• 8 Cherish her and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
• 9 She will give a garland for your head; she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

The Right Path

• 10 Listen, my child, take my sayings, and the years of your life shall be great.
• 11 In the way of wisdom I have instructed you; I have led you in the path of uprightness.
• 12 When you walk ,[fn] your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
• 13 Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.
• 14 In the path of the wicked do not go; do not walk in the way of those who do evil.
• 15 Avoid it; do not transgress it; turn away from it and pass by.
• 16 For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.
• 17 For they ate the bread of wickedness, and they drank the wine of violence.
• 18 But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day is full .[fn]
• 19 The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

Staying the Course

• 20 My child, be attentive to my words; to my sayings incline your ear.
• 21 May they not escape from your sight ;[fn] keep them in the midst of your heart.
• 22 For they are life to those who find them and healing to the entire body .[fn]
• 23 With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it comes the source[fn] of life.
• 24 Remove from yourself deceitful speech ,[fn] and abolish devious talk[fn] from yourself.
• 25 May your eyes look forward[fn] and your gaze be straight before you.
• 26 May the path of your foot be balanced and all your ways be sure.
• 27 Do not swerve right or left; remove your foot from evil.