Proverbs 4
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1Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction.
3When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of 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 to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, 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 insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
6Do not forsake her, and she will keep 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.
7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.8Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will present to you a crown of beauty."
10Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time.
11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.11I have directed you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.12When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
13Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life!
14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.14Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men.
15Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by.
16For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.16For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble.
17For they 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.
18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day.
19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over.
20My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say.
21Let them not escape from your sight; 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 healing to all their flesh.22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.
25Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you.
26Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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Proverbs 3
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