Proverbs 4
1 Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:
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 true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.
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 The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.
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, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
