Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
4 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.
who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honour it, that it may embrace you;
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
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.
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
18 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.
But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
