Proverbs 4:1-12 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:

ASV⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father,
And attend to know understanding: ² For I give you good doctrine;
Forsake ye not my law. ³ For I was a son unto my father,
Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. ⁴ And he taught me, and said unto me:
Let thy heart retain my words;
Keep my commandments, and live; ⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; ⁶ Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee;
Love her, and she will keep thee. ⁷ Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom;
Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. ⁸ Exalt her, and she will promote thee;
She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. ⁹ She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace;
A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.
¹⁰ Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;
And the years of thy life shall be many. ¹¹ I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;
I have led thee in paths of uprightness. ¹² When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;
And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.