Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
2 For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
3 For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
4 who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
5 and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
6 And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
8 Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honour it, that it may embrace you;
If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
9 that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
10 Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.
[So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
11 For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
12 For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
13 Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
14 Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
15 In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
16 For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
17 For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
18 But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
19 But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
[But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
20 [My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
21 that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
23 Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
24 Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
26 Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
