Proverbs 4
4
A Father’s Example
1Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, # 4:1 Ps 34:11; Pr 1:8
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2for I am giving you good instruction. # 4:2 Jb 11:4
Don’t abandon my teaching.
3When I was a son with my father,
tender and precious to my mother,
4he taught me and said,
“Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live. # 4:4 Pr 3:1–2; 6:20–23; 7:1–2
5Get wisdom, get understanding; # 4:5 Pr 16:16
don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.
6Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her, # 4:6 2Th 2:10 and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is supreme #— #so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding. # 4:7 Pr 16:16
8Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you. # 4:8 1Sm 2:30
9She will place a garland of favor on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.” # 4:9 Pr 1:9; 16:31
Two Ways of Life
10Listen, my son. Accept my words, # 4:10 Pr 2:1
and you will live many years. # 4:10 Pr 3:2
11I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am guiding you on straight paths. # 4:11 1Sm 12:23
12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; # 4:12 Jb 18:7; Ps 18:36
when you run, you will not stumble. # 4:12 Pr 3:23
13Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. # 4:13 Pr 3:18
Guard it, for it is your life.
14Keep off the path of the wicked; # 4:14 Ps 1:1; Pr 1:15
don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.
15Avoid it; don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble. # 4:16 Ps 36:4; Mc 2:1
17They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, # 4:18 2Sm 23:4
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; # 4:19 Is 59:9–10; Jr 23:12; Jn 12:35
they don’t know what makes them stumble. # 4:19 Pr 24:16; Jn 11:10
The Straight Path
20My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings. # 4:20 Pr 5:1
21Don’t lose sight of them; # 4:21 Pr 3:21
keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23Guard your heart above all else, # 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
for it is the source of life. # 4:23 Mt 15:19; Mk 7:18–23
24Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, # 4:24 Pr 6:12
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze # 4:25 Lit eyelids straight ahead. # 4:25 Heb 12:2
26Carefully consider the path # 4:26 Or Clear a path for your feet, # 4:26 Pr 5:6,21; Heb 12:13
and all your ways will be established.
27Don’t turn to the right or to the left; # 4:27 Dt 5:32–33; 28:13–14; Jos 1:7; 23:6; 1Kg 15:5
keep your feet away from evil.
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Proverbs 4: CSB
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