Proverbs 4
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1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction.
3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother,
4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow 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; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for 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.
7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. 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 place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will present to you a crown of beauty."
10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time.
11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.11I have directed you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you along straight paths.
12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.12When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life!
14Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.14Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men.
15Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by.
16For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to 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 food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence.
18The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until 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 total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.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 what I say. Listen carefully to my words.20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say.
21Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,21Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart.
22for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.
24Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.
25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you.
26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Proverbs 3
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