Proverbs 4
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1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.1Listen, sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching.
3For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,
4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.4he taught me and said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.6Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.9She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty."
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.13Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.14Keep off the path of the wicked; don't proceed on the way of evil ones.
15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.16For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.21Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Proverbs 3
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