Proverbs 4

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence;

Hear, you children, 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 you 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 my father’s son, 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.

He taught me also, and said to me, Let your 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: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.

7 The beginning of wisdom [is], Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your 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 shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.

9 She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee.

She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.

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 your 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 you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction, let [her] not go: keep her, for she is thy life.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your 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 go not in the way of evil men.

15 avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass away.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

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 sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some 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 just is as the shining 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 your 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 your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

For they are life to those that 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 your 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 you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be well-ordered.

Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your 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 your foot from evil.