Proverbs 4
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New Living TranslationNew American Standard Bible 1995
1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,1Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,
2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.2For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.
3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.3When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.4Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;
5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.6"Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.
7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.7"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you.8"Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.
9She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”9"She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty."
10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.10Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many.
11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.11I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.
13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.13Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.14Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.15Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
16For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!17For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
18The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,21Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.22For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.
23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.23Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
24Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.24Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.
25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.26Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.27Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org
Proverbs 3
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