Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
