Proverbs 4
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNET Bible
1Listen, my sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, 1Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching. 2Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching.
3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, 3When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother,
4he taught me and said:" Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. 4he taught me, and he said to me: "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. 5Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.
6Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. 7Wisdom is supreme--so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!
8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. 8Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
9She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." 9She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you."
10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. 10Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.
11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. 11I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life.
14Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. 14Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.
15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. 15Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on.
16For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. 16For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.
17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 17For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. 18But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.
19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble. 19The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.
20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. 20My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings.
21Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 21Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. 22for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body.
23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.
24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. 24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips.
25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. 25Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you.
26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. 26Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established.
27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. 27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 3
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