Proverbs 4:1-22 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 4:1-22 ▼
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1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention 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 good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one 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 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep 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 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings 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 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep 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 The first thing is wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get 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 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost 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 giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely. 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 sayings, And years of life are 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 a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths 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 walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not. 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 on instruction, do not desist, Keep 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 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers. 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, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass 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 sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not some to 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 have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink. 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.
18 And the path of the righteous is as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established, But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear, My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 For life they are to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
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