Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence;
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 for I give you good doctrine: forsake ye not my law.
For I give you good doctrine. Forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.
For I was a son to my father, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 And he taught me, and said unto me, Let thy heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live.
And he taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom, get understanding. Do not forget, nor decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee.
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve thee. Love her, and she will keep thee.
7 The beginning of wisdom [is], Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence.
Wisdom is the principal thing. Get wisdom, yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her.
Exalt her, and she will promote thee. She will bring thee to honor when thou embrace her.
9 She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee.
She will give to thy head a garland of grace, a crown of beauty she will deliver to thee.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be multiplied.
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 I will teach thee in the way of wisdom, I will lead thee in paths of uprightness.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom. I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
When thou go, thy steps shall not be restricted. And if thou run, thou shall not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction, let [her] not go: keep her, for she is thy life.
Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]:
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.
15 avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass away.
Avoid it. Do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 For they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they have caused [some] to fall.
For they do not sleep unless they do evil. And their sleep is taken away unless they cause to fall.
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 But the path of the righteous is as the shining light, going on and brightening until the day be fully come.
But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
The way of the wicked is as darkness. They know not at what they stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
My son, attend to my words. Incline thine ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart more than anything that is guarded; for out of it are the issues of life.
Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee perverseness of mouth, and corrupt lips put far from thee.
Put away from thee a wayward mouth, and put perverse lips far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be well-ordered.
Make the path of thy feet level, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. Remove thy foot from evil.
