Your Life Is at Stake 4
1Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice;
sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live.
2I’m giving you good counsel;
don’t let it go in one ear and out the other.
3When I was a boy at my father’s knee,
the pride and joy of my mother,
4He would sit me down and drill me:
“Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!
5Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
6Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;
love her—she keeps her eye on you.
7Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
8Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;
never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
9She’ll garland your life with grace,
she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”
10Dear friend, take my advice;
it will add years to your life.
11I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way,
I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
12I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys,
or wasting time making wrong turns.
13Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.
Guard it well—your life is at stake!
14Don’t take Wicked Bypass;
don’t so much as set foot on that road.
15Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.
Make a detour and be on your way.
16Evil people are restless
unless they’re making trouble;
They can’t get a good night’s sleep
unless they’ve made life miserable for somebody.
17Perversity is their food and drink,
violence their drug of choice.
18The ways of right–living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
19But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
Learn It by Heart
20Dear friend, listen well to my words;
tune your ears to my voice.
21Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
22Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they’re bursting with health.
23Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
24Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
25Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
26Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
27Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.
The Message® / © 2002 Eugene H. Peterson About