Proverbs 4
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1Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment. 1Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
2Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching. 2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
3When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother, 3When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4he taught me, and he said to me: "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live. 4he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
5Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. 5Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is supreme--so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
8Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
9She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you." 9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many. 10Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
11I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. 11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble. 12When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life. 13Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
14Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil. 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on. 15Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
16For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble. 16For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. 17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full 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 like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble. 19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
20My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. 20My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart; 21Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.
22for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body. 22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. 23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips. 24Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
25Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you. 25Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
26Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established. 26Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil. 27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
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Proverbs 3
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