Proverbs 4 NIV ISV Parallel

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◄ Proverbs 4 ►

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1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.

2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction.

3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.

3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother,

4Then he taught me, and he said to me, "Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will 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 understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

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 watch over 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. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.

8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

8Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown."

9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will present to you a crown of beauty."

10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time.

11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight 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; 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; guard it well, for it is your life.

13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life!

14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

14Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men.

15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by.

16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till 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.

17They 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.

18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day.

19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over.

20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say.

21Do not let them out of 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 health to one's whole body.

22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.

24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.

25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you.

26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established.

27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

New International Version (NIV)

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