Proverbs 4
4
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get#4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,#4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get get understanding.
8Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
10Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26Give careful thought to the#4:26 Or Make level paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 4
4
A Father’s Advice About Wisdom
1Children, listen to your father’s teaching. Pay attention and you will learn how to learn. 2The advice I give is good, so don’t ever forget what I teach you.
3When I was my father’s little boy and my mother’s dear son,#4:3 dear son Or “only son.” 4my father taught me this: “Pay attention to what I say. Obey my commands and you will have a good life. 5Try to get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget my teaching or ignore what I say. 6Don’t turn away from wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe.
7“The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything you have to get understanding. 8Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Hold on to wisdom, and she will bring you honor. 9Wisdom will reward you with a crown of honor and glory.”
10Son, listen to me. Do what I say, and you will live a long time. 11I am teaching you about wisdom and guiding you on the right path. 12As you walk on it, you will not step into a trap. Even if you run, you will not trip and fall. 13Always remember this teaching. Don’t forget it. It is the key to life, so guard it well.
14Don’t take the path of the wicked; don’t follow those who do evil. 15Stay away from that path; don’t even go near it. Turn around and go another way. 16The wicked cannot sleep until they have done something evil. They will not rest until they bring someone down. 17Evil and violence are their food and drink.
18The path of those who live right is like the early morning light. It gets brighter and brighter until the full light of day. 19But the path of the wicked is like a dark night. They trip and fall over what they cannot see.
20My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. 21Don’t let them out of your sight. Never stop thinking about them. 22These words are the secret of life and health to all who discover them. 23Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.
24Don’t bend the truth or say things that you know are not right. 25Keep your eyes on the path, and look straight ahead. 26Make sure you are going the right way, and nothing will make you fall. 27Don’t go to the right or to the left, and you will stay away from evil.
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