Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
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 have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
27 Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
