Proverbs, 4

1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

1. Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction and pay attention so that you may gain insight.

2. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

2. For I have given you good principles; do not discard my teaching!

3. For I was my father's son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother.

3. For when I, too, was a young boy, and my mother fondly looked on me as special,

4. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

4. my father taught me and said to me: Treasure my words in your heart; listen to my directions and you will live.

5. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

5. Acquire wisdom and insight and do not forget or reject the words of my mouth.

6. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

6. Do not abandon wisdom for she will protect you. Love her and she will be your salvation.

7. Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

7. The beginning of wisdom is to work to acquire it. At the cost of all you possess, strive to gain insight.

8. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

8. Hold her close, for she will exalt you and bring you honor if you embrace her.

9. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

9. She will crown you with grace and put a diadem of splendor on your head.

10. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

10. Listen, my son, and take my words to heart; then the years of your life will be multiplied.

11. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

11. Because I have taught you the way of wisdom and have guided you along honest ways,

12. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

12. you will walk with ease and run without falling.

13. Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] thy life.

13. Hold firm to discipline; never let her go. Guard her well for she is your salvation.

14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men].

14. Do not follow the way of the wicked nor walk with evildoers.

15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

15. Avoid them, turn your back on them and pass on.

16. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.

16. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; they cannot rest unless they have caused someone's downfall.

17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

17. Wickedness is their bread and violence their wine.

18. But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

18. The way of the upright is like the dawn that becomes brighter until the fullness of day.

19. The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

19. The way of the wicked is total darkness and they do not notice that which will make them fall.

20. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

20. My son, be attentive and listen carefully to my words.

21. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

21. Never let them out of your sight but guard them in the bottom of your heart.

22. For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

22. For they are life to those who cling to them and healing for the inner spirit.

23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.

23. Above all else, guard your heart, for therein is the source of life.

24. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

24. Keep your mouth from lies and let not deceit come from your lips.

25. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

25. Keep your sight on what is ahead and your eyes directed straight in front of you.

26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

26. Test the ground under your feet and all your ways will be secure.

27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

27. Turn neither to left nor to right and keep your path from evil.