4 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Listen carefully so that you understand what is right. 2 My teaching will help you, so do not refuse it.
3-4 My father taught me when I was a little boy. My mother loved me as her only child. My father said to me,
‘Think carefully about what I tell you.
If you obey my commands, you will live well.
5 Learn to be wise and to understand things properly.
Do not forget my teaching or turn away from it.
6 If you keep hold of wisdom, she will keep you safe.
She will protect you if you love her. [ a ]
7 Learn to be wise, because wisdom is the most important thing to have.
Make sure that you learn to understand things well.
8 Respect wisdom as very valuable, then she will make you great.
If you make her your friend, she will give you honour.
9 Wisdom will bless you, as if you are wearing a beautiful crown on your head.’
10 So listen to me, my child, and accept my teaching. If you do, the years of your life will be many.
11 I am teaching you to be wise, so that you will know the right way to live. 12 As you walk through life, nothing will stop you. Even when you run, you will not fall.
13 Keep hold of my teaching. Do not forget it. Keep it safe because it will give you a good life.
14 Do not join with wicked or evil people. Do not do the things that they do. 15 Keep away from them! Be sure to keep to your own good way of life.
16 Wicked people have to do evil things. They cannot go to sleep unless they have been cruel to someone that day. 17 Evil acts are their food. Violence is their drink.
18 The life of righteous people is like the sun at dawn. It gets brighter and brighter until midday. 19 But the life of wicked people is like a very dark road. They cannot even see what causes them to fall.
20 My child, listen carefully to my teaching and to everything that I tell you. 21 Never forget my words. Keep them safe in your mind. 22 They will give true life to anyone who takes hold of them. They will give health to your whole body.
23 Be very careful to keep your mind safe. The thoughts that you think make you the person that you are.
24 Never tell lies or try to deceive other people.
25 Look straight in front of you to see clearly where you are going. 26 Decide carefully where you are going in life. Then you will be on a good, safe path. 27 Do not walk off your path, to the right side or the left side. Keep away from everything that is evil.
4 Children, listen to your father’s teaching. Pay attention and you will learn how to learn. 2 The advice I give is good, so don’t ever forget what I teach you.
3 When I was my father’s little boy and my mother’s dear son, [ a ] 4 my father taught me this: “Pay attention to what I say. Obey my commands and you will have a good life. 5 Try to get wisdom and understanding. Don’t forget my teaching or ignore what I say. 6 Don’t turn away from wisdom, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will keep you safe.
7 “The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything you have to get understanding. 8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Hold on to wisdom, and she will bring you honor. 9 Wisdom will reward you with a crown of honor and glory.”
10 Son, listen to me. Do what I say, and you will live a long time. 11 I am teaching you about wisdom and guiding you on the right path. 12 As you walk on it, you will not step into a trap. Even if you run, you will not trip and fall. 13 Always remember this teaching. Don’t forget it. It is the key to life, so guard it well.
14 Don’t take the path of the wicked; don’t follow those who do evil. 15 Stay away from that path; don’t even go near it. Turn around and go another way. 16 The wicked cannot sleep until they have done something evil. They will not rest until they bring someone down. 17 Evil and violence are their food and drink.
18 The path of those who live right is like the early morning light. It gets brighter and brighter until the full light of day. 19 But the path of the wicked is like a dark night. They trip and fall over what they cannot see.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. 21 Don’t let them out of your sight. Never stop thinking about them. 22 These words are the secret of life and health to all who discover them. 23 Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.
24 Don’t bend the truth or say things that you know are not right. 25 Keep your eyes on the path, and look straight ahead. 26 Make sure you are going the right way, and nothing will make you fall. 27 Don’t go to the right or to the left, and you will stay away from evil.
4 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's 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.
4 Listen, my sons, to the ( A ) instruction of a father,
And ( B ) pay attention so that you may [ a ] gain understanding,
2 For I give you good ( C ) teaching;
( D ) Do not abandon my [ b ] instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father,
( E ) Tender and ( F ) the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 He ( G ) taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart ( H ) take hold of my words;
( I ) Keep my commandments and live;
5 ( J ) Acquire wisdom! ( K ) Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
( L ) Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 ( M ) The [ c ] beginning of wisdom is : ( N ) Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
8 ( O ) Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place ( P ) on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Listen, my son, and ( Q ) accept my sayings,
And the ( R ) years of your life will be many.
11 I have ( S ) instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your ( T ) steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you ( U ) will not stumble.
13 ( V ) Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your ( W ) life.
14 ( X ) Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they ( Y ) cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And [ d ] they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they ( Z ) eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the ( AA ) path of the righteous is like the ( AB ) light of dawn
That ( AC ) shines brighter and brighter until the ( AD ) full day.
19 The ( AE ) way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they [ e ] ( AF ) stumble.
20 My son, ( AG ) pay attention to my words;
( AH ) Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 ( AI ) They are not to escape from your sight;
( AJ ) Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are ( AK ) life to those who find them,
And ( AL ) healing to all [ f ] their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For ( AM ) from it flow the springs of life.
24 Rid yourself of a ( AN ) deceitful mouth
And ( AO ) keep devious [ g ] speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your [ h ] gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 ( AP ) [ i ] Watch the path of your feet,
And all your ( AQ ) ways will be established.
27 ( AR ) Do not turn to the right or to the left;
( AS ) Turn your foot from evil.
4 Listen, my sons, ( A ) to a father’s instruction; ( B )
pay attention and gain understanding. ( C )
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold ( D ) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live. ( E )
5 Get wisdom, ( F ) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; ( G )
love her, and she will watch over you. ( H )
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get [ a ] wisdom.
Though it cost all ( I ) you have, [ b ] get understanding. ( J )
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you. ( K )
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown. ( L ) ”
10 Listen, my son, ( M ) accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many. ( N )
11 I instruct ( O ) you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths. ( P )
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble. ( Q )
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life. ( R )
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers. ( S )
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil; ( T )
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence. ( U )
18 The path of the righteous ( V ) is like the morning sun, ( W )
shining ever brighter till the full light of day. ( X )
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; ( Y )
they do not know what makes them stumble. ( Z )
20 My son, ( AA ) pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words. ( AB )
21 Do not let them out of your sight, ( AC )
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body. ( AD )
23 Above all else, guard ( AE ) your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. ( AF )
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes ( AG ) look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the [ c ] paths for your feet ( AH )
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; ( AI )
keep your foot from evil.
