Proverbs 4
4
A Father’s Lesson: Get Wisdom!
1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention, to gain understanding.
2For I give you sound learning— do not forsake my instruction.
3When I was a son to my father, tender and special to my mother,
4he taught me and said to me: “Lay hold of my words in your heart, keep my commands and you will live!
5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake her, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will watch over you.
7Wisdom is supreme—acquire wisdom! With all your acquisitions, get understanding.
8Prize her, and she will exalt you. She will honor you when you embrace her.
9She will set a garland of grace on your head. She will give you a crown of glory.”
Ways of Wisdom and Wickedness
10Listen, my son, and accept my words, so the years of your life will be many.
11I instructed you in the way of wisdom. I have guided you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on tightly to instruction, do not let it go— guard it, for it is your life.
14Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil people.
15Avoid it—do not travel on it— turn away from it and pass by.
16For they cannot sleep until they do evil. They are robbed of sleep until they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until the full day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.
20My son, pay attention to my words— incline your ear to my sayings.
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 their whole body.
23Guard your heart diligently, for from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away perversity from your mouth, and keep devious lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look directly ahead, and fix your gaze straight in front of you.
26 Clear a level path for your feet, so all your ways will be firm.
27Do not turn to the right or to the left. Divert your foot from evil.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Proverbs 4
4
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
1My sons, listen to a father’s teaching.
Pay attention and gain understanding.
2I give you good advice.
So don’t turn away from what I teach you.
3I, too, was once a young boy in my father’s house.
And my mother loved me deeply.
4Then my father taught me.
He said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart.
Keep my commands, and you will live.
5Get wisdom, and get understanding.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe.
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7To start being wise you must first get wisdom.
No matter what it costs, get understanding.
8Value wisdom highly, and she will lift you up.
Hold her close, and she will honor you.
9She will set a beautiful crown on your head.
She will give you a glorious crown.”
10My son, listen. Accept what I say.
Then you will live for many years.
11I instruct you in the way of wisdom.
I lead you along straight paths.
12When you walk, nothing will slow you down.
When you run, you won’t trip and fall.
13Hold on to my teaching and don’t let it go.
Guard it well, because it is your life.
14Don’t take the path of evil people.
Don’t live the way sinners do.
15Stay away from their path and don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it and go on your way.
16Sinners can’t rest until they do what is evil.
They can’t sleep until they make someone sin.
17They do evil just as easily as they eat food.
They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.
18The path of those who do right is like the sun in the morning.
It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day.
19But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness.
They don’t know what makes them trip and fall.
20My son, pay attention to what I say.
Listen closely to my words.
21Don’t let them out of your sight.
Keep them in your heart.
22They are life to those who find them.
They are health to a person’s whole body.
23Above everything else, guard your heart.
Everything you do comes from it.
24Don’t speak with twisted words.
Keep evil talk away from your lips.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Keep looking right in front of you.
26Think carefully about the paths that your feet walk on.
Always choose the right ways.
27Don’t turn to the right or left.
Keep your feet from the path of evil.
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