Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before 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.
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
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.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
