Home Master Index
←Prev   Proverbs 4 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


4:1  My sons, listen to a father’s teaching. Pay attention and gain understanding.
4:2  I give you good advice. So don’t turn away from what I teach you.
4:3  I, too, was once a young boy in my father’s house. And my mother loved me deeply.
4:4  Then my father taught me. He said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart. Keep my commands, and you will live.
4:5  Get wisdom, and get understanding. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
4:6  Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe. Love her, and she will watch over you.
4:7  To start being wise you must first get wisdom. No matter what it costs, get understanding.
4:8  Value wisdom highly, and she will lift you up. Hold her close, and she will honor you.
4:9  She will set a beautiful crown on your head. She will give you a glorious crown.”
4:10  My son, listen. Accept what I say. Then you will live for many years.
4:11  I instruct you in the way of wisdom. I lead you along straight paths.
4:12  When you walk, nothing will slow you down. When you run, you won’t trip and fall.
4:13  Hold on to my teaching and don’t let it go. Guard it well, because it is your life.
4:14  Don’t take the path of evil people. Don’t live the way sinners do.
4:15  Stay away from their path and don’t travel on it. Turn away from it and go on your way.
4:16  Sinners can’t rest until they do what is evil. They can’t sleep until they make someone sin.
4:17  They do evil just as easily as they eat food. They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.
4:18  The path of those who do right is like the sun in the morning. It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day.
4:19  But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness. They don’t know what makes them trip and fall.
4:20  My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words.
4:21  Don’t let them out of your sight. Keep them in your heart.
4:22  They are life to those who find them. They are health to a person’s whole body.
4:23  Above everything else, guard your heart. Everything you do comes from it.
4:24  Don’t speak with twisted words. Keep evil talk away from your lips.
4:25  Let your eyes look straight ahead. Keep looking right in front of you.
4:26  Think carefully about the paths that your feet walk on. Always choose the right ways.
4:27  Don’t turn to the right or left. Keep your feet from the path of evil.