Proverbs - Chapter 4 | English Standard Version

  • 1. Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
  • 2. for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
  • 3. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
  • 4. he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
  • 5. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
  • 6. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
  • 7. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
  • 8. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
  • 9. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
  • 10. Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
  • 11. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
  • 12. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
  • 13. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
  • 14. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
  • 15. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
  • 16. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
  • 17. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
  • 18. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
  • 19. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
  • 20. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
  • 21. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.
  • 22. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
  • 23. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
  • 24. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
  • 25. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
  • 26. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
  • 27. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
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