Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 He taught me also, and said to me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
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.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
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 just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.
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.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
