Provérbios 4
1Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you''ll know how to live.
2I''m giving you good counsel; don''t let it go in one ear and out the other.
3When I was a boy at my father''s knee, the pride and joy of my mother,
4He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you--live!
5Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don''t forget one word! Don''t deviate an inch!
6Never walk away from Wisdom--she guards your life; love her--she keeps her eye on you.
7Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
8Throw your arms around her--believe me, you won''t regret it; never let her go--she''ll make your life glorious.
9She''ll garland your life with grace, she''ll festoon your days with beauty."
10Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.
11I''m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I''m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
12I don''t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.
13Hold tight to good advice; don''t relax your grip. Guard it well--your life is at stake!
14Don''t take Wicked Bypass; don''t so much as set foot on that road.
15Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way.
16Evil people are restless unless they''re making trouble; They can''t get a good night''s sleep unless they''ve made life miserable for somebody.
17Perversity is their food and drink, violence their drug of choice.
18The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
19But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker--travelers can''t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
20Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.
21Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
22Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they''re bursting with health.
23Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that''s where life starts.
24Don''t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
25Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.
26Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
27Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.