Proverbs 4
Revised Geneva Translation
4 Hear, O children, the instruction of a father. And give ear to learn understanding.
2 For I do give you a good doctrine. Therefore, do not forsake my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and dear in the sight of my mother,
4 when he taught me, and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words. Keep my commandments, and you shall live.
5 “Get wisdom. Get understanding. Neither forget nor decline from the words of my mouth.
6 “Do not forsake her, and she shall keep you. Love her and she shall preserve you.
7 “Wisdom is the beginning. Therefore, get wisdom. And above all your possessions, get understanding.
8 “Exalt her, and she shall exalt you. She shall bring you to honor, if you embrace her.
9 “She shall give a comely ornament to your head. Indeed, she shall give you a crown of glory.
10 “Hear, my son, and receive my words. And the years of your life shall be many.
11 “I have taught you in the way of wisdom and led you in the paths of righteousness.
12 “When you go, your gait shall not be distressed. And when you run, you shall not fall.
13 “Take hold of instruction, and do not let go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 “Do not enter into the way of the wicked. And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 “Avoid it. Do not go by it. Turn from it, and pass by.
16 “For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil. And their sleep departs unless they cause some to fall.
17 “For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 “But the way of the righteous shines, as the light that shines more and more until the perfect Day.
19 “The way of the wicked is as the darkness. They do not know wherein they shall fall.
20 “My son, listen to my words. Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 “Do not let them depart from your eyes. But keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 “For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 “Keep your heart with all diligence. For out of it comes life.
24 “Put away from you a perverse mouth. And put wicked lips far from you.
25 “Let your eyes behold the right. And let your eyelids direct your way before you.
26 “Ponder the path of your feet. And let all your ways be ordered aright.
27 “Do not turn to the right hand or to the left. Remove your foot from evil.”
Proverbs 4
New International Reader's Version
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 My sons, listen to a father’s teaching.
Pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you good advice.
So don’t turn away from what I teach you.
3 I, too, was once a young boy in my father’s house.
And my mother loved me deeply.
4 Then my father taught me.
He said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart.
Keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, and get understanding.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe.
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 To start being wise you must first get wisdom.
No matter what it costs, get understanding.
8 Value wisdom highly, and she will lift you up.
Hold her close, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a beautiful crown on your head.
She will give you a glorious crown.”
10 My son, listen. Accept what I say.
Then you will live for many years.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom.
I lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, nothing will slow you down.
When you run, you won’t trip and fall.
13 Hold on to my teaching and don’t let it go.
Guard it well, because it is your life.
14 Don’t take the path of evil people.
Don’t live the way sinners do.
15 Stay away from their path and don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it and go on your way.
16 Sinners can’t rest until they do what is evil.
They can’t sleep until they make someone sin.
17 They do evil just as easily as they eat food.
They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.
18 The path of those who do right is like the sun in the morning.
It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness.
They don’t know what makes them trip and fall.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say.
Listen closely to my words.
21 Don’t let them out of your sight.
Keep them in your heart.
22 They are life to those who find them.
They are health to a person’s whole body.
23 Above everything else, guard your heart.
Everything you do comes from it.
24 Don’t speak with twisted words.
Keep evil talk away from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Keep looking right in front of you.
26 Think carefully about the paths that your feet walk on.
Always choose the right ways.
27 Don’t turn to the right or left.
Keep your feet from the path of evil.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
