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Proverbs 4

King James Version

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father' son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men . 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

Proverbs 4

English Standard Version



1 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain[1] insight, (Ps 34:11; Pr 1:8; Pr 2:2; Pr 5:7; Pr 7:24; Pr 8:33) 2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. (Job 11:4) 3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, (1Ch 22:5; Zec 12:10) 4 he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. (Le 18:5; 1Ch 28:9; Pr 3:1; Pr 7:2; Isa 55:3; Eph 6:4) 5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. (Pr 2:2; Pr 4:1) 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. (2Th 2:10) 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. (Pr 1:7; Pr 4:1) 8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. (1Sa 2:30; So 2:6) 9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” (Pr 1:9) 10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. (Pr 2:1; Pr 3:2; Pr 4:1) 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. (1Sa 12:23) 12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (Job 18:7; Ps 18:36; Ps 119:45; Pr 3:23) 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. (Pr 3:18; Pr 4:22; Joh 1:4; 1Jo 5:12) 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. (Ps 1:1; Pr 1:15) 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. (Ps 36:4) 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. (Am 2:8) 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. (2Sa 23:4; Job 11:17; Job 22:28; Ps 84:7; Ps 97:11; Isa 60:3; Isa 62:1; Da 12:3; 1Jo 3:2) 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. (1Sa 2:9; Job 18:5; Isa 59:9; Jer 23:12; Mt 6:23; Joh 11:10; Joh 12:35; 1Jo 2:10) 20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. (Pr 4:10) 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. (Pr 2:1; Pr 3:21) 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their[2] flesh. (De 32:47; Pr 4:13; Pr 8:35; Pr 21:21; 1Ti 4:8) 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Ps 16:11; Mt 12:35) 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. (Pr 2:15; Pr 6:12) 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. (Heb 12:2) 26 Ponder[3] the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. (Ps 119:5; Pr 5:6; Pr 5:21; Heb 12:13) 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (De 5:32; De 28:14; Jos 1:7; 1Ki 15:5) 

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