Proverbs 4
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Christian Standard BibleInternational Standard Version
1Listen, sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching.2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction.
3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother,
4he taught me and said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.4he taught me and told me, "Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; keep my commandments and live!
5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
6Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.6Do not abandon her, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will watch over you.
7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.8Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty."9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will present to you a crown of beauty."
10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time.
11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.11I have directed you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.12When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life.13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life!
14Keep off the path of the wicked; don't proceed on the way of evil ones.14Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men.
15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by.
16For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.16For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble.
17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day.
19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble.19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over.
20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say.
21Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.21Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body.22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.
24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously.24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.
25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you.
26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Proverbs 3
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