Proverbs 4
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King James BibleEnglish Standard Version
1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.1Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake 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, the only one in the sight of 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 to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.5Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.10Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.12When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.13Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.15Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.16For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.17For they 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.18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.20My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.21Let them not escape from your sight; 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 healing to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.24Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.25Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.26Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.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.
Proverbs 3
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