Proverbs 4:3-13

New American Standard Bible

³When I was a son to my father,
^(A)Tender and ^(B)the only son in the sight of my mother,
⁴He ^(C)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart ^(D)take hold of my words;
^(E)Keep my commandments and live;
⁵^(F)Acquire wisdom! ^(G)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
^(H)Love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷^(I)The ^[a]beginning of wisdom is: ^(J)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
⁸^(K)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
⁹She will place ^(L)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

¹⁰Listen, my son, and ^(M)accept my sayings,
And the ^(N)years of your life will be many.
¹¹I have ^(O)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
¹²When you walk, your ^(P)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you ^(Q)will not stumble.
¹³^(R)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your ^(S)life.