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Proverbs 4
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1Hear, mysons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention so you can gain understanding.
2For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.
2I am giving you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instructions.
3For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
3When I was a young son to my father, and the tender, only child of my mother,
4And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;
4he taught me and said, 'Hold on tightly to my words with your whole heart; obey my commands and you will live.'
5Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
6Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe.
7Wisdomisthe principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
7Wisdom is the most important thing, so get wisdom. Even if it costs everything you have, get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
8Honor her, and she will set you high; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.
9She will place a graceful wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
10Listen, my son, and accept what I say, so that the years of your life will be many.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
11I have taught you the way of wisdom and led you on straight paths.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
12When you walk, your stride will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.
13Hold on tightly to instruction and do not let go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.
14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil people.
15Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
15Avoid it; do not even travel on it. Turn away from it and keep going.
16For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
16For they cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong; they are robbed of rest unless they make someone stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
18The path of the righteous is like the first light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until the full light of day.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not even know what makes them stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
20My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
21Do not let them out of your sight; keep them deep within your heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
22For they are life to those who find them and healing to their whole body.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
23Guard your heart more than anything else, because everything you do flows from it.
24Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
24Keep crooked speech far from your mouth and stay away from deceitful talk.
25Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
25Look straight ahead with honest eyes; keep your gaze fixed directly in front of you.