Proverbs 4:1-13

DouayRheims(i) 1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend, that you may know prudence. 2 I will give you a good gift, forsake not my law. 3 For I also was my father's son, tender, and as an only son in the sight of my mother: 4 And he taught me, and said: Let thy heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live. 5 Get wisdom, get prudence: forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her, and she shall preserve thee. 7 The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom, and with all thy possession purchase prudence. 8 Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her. 9 She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a noble crown. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be multiplied to thee. 11 I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths of equity: 12 Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not meet a stumblingblock. 13 Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is thy life.