Proverbs 4

The Father’s Wisdom

1Children, listen to the instruction of a father,

and be attentive in order to know insight.

2For I have given you good instruction;

do not forsake my teaching.

3When I was a son to my father,

tender and alone before my mother,

4he taught me and said to me,

“May your heart hold fast to my words;

guard my commandments and live.

5Get wisdom and insight;

do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

6Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;

love her and she will keep you.

7The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!

With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

8Cherish her and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

9She will give a garland for your head;

she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

The Right Path

10Listen, my child, take my sayings,

and the years of your life shall be great.

11In the way of wisdom I have instructed you;

I have led you in the path of uprightness.

12When you walk,#Literally “In your walking” your step will not be hampered,

and if you run, you will not stumble.

13Seize the instruction! Do not let go!

Guard her, for she is your life.

14In the path of the wicked do not go;

do not walk in the way of those who do evil.

15Avoid it; do not transgress it;

turn away from it and pass by.

16For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong,

and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.

17For they ate the bread of wickedness,

and they drank the wine of violence.

18But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn,

leading and shining until the day is full.#Literally “is correct”

19The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness;

they do not know what they stumble over.

Staying the Course

20My child, be attentive to my words;

to my sayings incline your ear.

21May they not escape from your sight;#Literally “eyes”

keep them in the midst of your heart.

22For they are life to those who find them

and healing to the entire body.#Literally “for all his flesh”

23With all vigilance, keep your heart,

for from it comes the source#Or “extremity” of life.

24Remove from yourself deceitful speech,#Literally “crookedness of mouth”

and abolish devious talk#Literally “deviousness of lips” from yourself.

25May your eyes look forward#Or “opposite”

and your gaze be straight before you.

26May the path of your foot be balanced

and all your ways be sure.

27Do not swerve right or left;

remove your foot from evil.

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Proverbs 4: LEB

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Proverbs 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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