Proverbs 4
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New Living TranslationNew International Version
1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.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.
5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.6Do not forsake wisdom, 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.7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you.8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown."
10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; 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 it well, for it is your life.
14Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
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 rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!17They eat the bread of wickedness and 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 morning sun, shining ever brighter till 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; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
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 health to one's whole body.
23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
24Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot 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.New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 3
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