Read the Bible

¹ Listen, children, to a father's instruction,
and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
² Because I give you good instruction,
do not forsake my teaching.
³ When I was a son to my father,
a tender only child before my mother,
⁴ he taught me, and he said to me:
"Let your heart lay hold of my words;
keep my commands so that you will live.
⁵ Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding;
do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will guard you.
⁷ Wisdom is supreme—so acquire wisdom,
and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!
⁸ Esteem her highly and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
⁹ She will place a fair garland on your head;
she will bestow a beautiful crown on you."
¹⁰ Listen, my child, and accept my words,
so that the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I will guide you in the way of wisdom
and I will lead you in upright paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered,
and when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
protect it, because it is your life.
¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of those who are evil.
¹⁵ Avoid it, do not go on it;
turn away from it, and go on.
¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm;
they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ For they eat bread gained from wickedness
and drink wine obtained from violence.
¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light,
growing brighter and brighter until full day.
¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness;
they do not know what causes them to stumble.
²⁰ My child, pay attention to my words;
listen attentively to my sayings.
²¹ Do not let them depart from your sight,
guard them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
and healing to one's entire body.
²³ Guard your heart with all vigilance,
for from it are the sources of life.
²⁴ Remove perverse speech from your mouth;
keep devious talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look directly in front of you
and let your gaze look straight before you.
²⁶ Make the path for your feet level,
so that all your ways may be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or to the left;
turn yourself away from evil.