Proverbs 4 - Douy-Rheims Bible Challoner Revision

¹ Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her.

² She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a noble crown.

³ 0 Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be multiplied to thee.

⁴ 1 I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths of equity:

⁵ 2 Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest thou shalt not meet a stumblingblock.

⁶ 3 Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is thy life.

⁷ 4 Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way of evil men please thee.

⁸ 5 Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it.

⁹ 6 For they sleep not except they have done evil: and their sleep is taken away unless they have made some to fall.

¹⁰ 7 They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity.

¹¹ 8 But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards and increaseth even to perfect day.

¹² 9 The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall.

¹³ 0 My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.

¹⁴ 1 Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart:

¹⁵ 2 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all flesh.

¹⁶ 3 With all watchfulness keep thy heart, because life issueth out from it.

¹⁷ 4 Remove from thee a froward mouth, and let detracting lips be far from thee.

¹⁸ 5 Let thy eyes look straight on, and let thy eyelids go before thy steps.

¹⁹ 6 Make straight the path for thy feet, and all thy ways shall be established.

²⁰ 7 Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left: turn away thy foot from evil. For the Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right hand: but those are perverse which are on the left hand. But he will make thy courses straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace.

²¹ My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.

²² That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman.

²³ For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her throat is smoother than oil.

²⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword.

²⁵ Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell.

²⁶ They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.

²⁷ Now therefore, my son, hear me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.