Proverbs 4:1-15 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 4:1-15 ▼
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1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 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 For I gave to you good instruction; ye shall not forsake my law. for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I was son to my father; tender and only before the face of 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 And he taught me, and he will say to me, Thy heart shall hold fast my words: watch my commands and 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 Obtain wisdom, obtain understanding: thou shalt not forget, and thou shalt not decline from the words of my mouth. 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 Thou shalt not forsake her, and she will watch thee: love her, and she will guard thee. 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 the beginning; obtain wisdom, and with all thine acquisition, obtain 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 Lift her up and she shall exalt thee: she will honor thee when thou shalt 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 give to thy head a garland of grace: a crown of glory she will deliver thee. 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 Hear, my son, and receive my words, and the years of life shall be multiplied to thee. 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 In the way of wisdom I taught thee; I caused thee to tread in the tracks of uprightness. 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 In thy going, thy steps shall not be pressed; and if thou shalt run thou shalt not be weak. 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 Lay hold upon instruction, thou shalt not let go: guard her for she is thy 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 In the path of the unjust thou shalt not go, and thou shalt not advance in the way of the wicked. 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 Reject it, thou shalt not pass in it; turn aside from it and pass by. 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.
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