Proverbs 4
4
Cherish Wisdom
1Sons,
listen to ⌞your⌟ father’s discipline,
and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
2After all, I have taught you well.
Do not abandon my teachings.
3When I was a boy ⌞learning⌟ from my father,
when I was a tender and only child of my mother,
4they used to teach me and say to me,
“Cling to my words wholeheartedly.
Obey my commands so that you may live.
5Acquire wisdom.
Acquire understanding.
Do not forget.
Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken.
6Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you.
Love wisdom, and it will protect you.
7The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom.
Acquire understanding with all that you have.
8Cherish wisdom.
It will raise you up.
It will bring you honor when you embrace it.
9It will give you a graceful garland for your head.
It will hand you a beautiful crown.”
Stay on the Path of Wisdom
10My son,
listen and accept my words,
and they will multiply the years of your life.
11I have taught you the way of wisdom.
I have guided you along decent paths.
12When you walk, your stride will not be hampered.
Even if you run, you will not stumble.
13Cling to discipline.
Do not relax your grip on it.
Keep it because it is your life.
14Do not stray onto the path of wicked people.
Do not walk in the way of evil people.
15Avoid it.
Do not walk near it.
Turn away from it,
and keep on walking.
16Wicked people cannot sleep
unless they do wrong,
and they are robbed of their sleep
unless they make someone stumble.
17They eat food obtained through wrongdoing
and drink wine obtained through violence.
18But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn
that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.
19The way of wicked people is like deep darkness.
They do not know what makes them stumble.
Stay Focused on Wisdom
20My son,
pay attention to my words.
Open your ears to what I say.
21Do not lose sight of these things.
Keep them deep within your heart
22because they are life to those who find them
and they heal the whole body.
23Guard your heart more than anything else,
because the source of your life flows from it.
24Remove dishonesty from your mouth.
Put deceptive speech far away from your lips.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead
and your sight be focused in front of you.
26Carefully walk a straight path,
and all your ways will be secure.
27Do not lean to the right or to the left.
Walk away from evil.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 4
4
The Benefits of Wisdom
1Listen to what your father teaches you, my children. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. 2What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. 3When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son, 4my father would teach me. He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live. 5Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. 6Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. 7Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. 8Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her,#4.8 Embrace her; or Prize her highly. and she will bring you honour. 9She will be your crowning glory.”
10Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life. 11I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live. 12Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. 13Always remember what you have learnt. Your education is your life — guard it well. 14Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. 15Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way. 16Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone. 17Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
18The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. 19The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
20Pay attention to what I say, my child. Listen to my words. 21Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. 22They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. 23Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 24Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. 25Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame. 26#Heb 12.13Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.