Proverbs 4:1-17 Parallel Bible Translations

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	NET New English Translation	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
1	Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.	Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,	Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2	Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching.	for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.	I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3	When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother,	When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,	For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4	he taught me, and he said to me: \|Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.	he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.	Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.
5	Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.	Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.	Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6	Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you.	Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.	Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7	Wisdom is supreme--so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!	The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.	The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8	Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.	Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.	Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9	She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you.\|	She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”	She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
10	Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.	Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.	Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11	I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.	I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.	I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12	When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.	When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.	When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13	Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life.	Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.	Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14	Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.	Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.	Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15	Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on.	Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.	Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16	For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.	For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.	For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17	For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence.	For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.	They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
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