Proverbs 4
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1Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment. 1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
2Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching. 2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction.
3When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother, 3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to 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 told me, "Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; 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 understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect 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 acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! 7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
8Esteem 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 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 present to you a crown of beauty."
10Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many. 10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time.
11I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright 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 hampered, and 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, do not let it go; protect it, because it 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 or walk in the way of those who are 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 go on. 15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by.
16For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until 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.
17For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing 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 gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble. 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over.
20My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. 20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say.
21Do not let them depart from your sight, guard 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 one's entire body. 22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. 23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.
24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips. 24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.
25Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you. 25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you.
26Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established. 26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil. 27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
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Proverbs 3
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