Proverbs 4 - Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)

An Address to Sons:
Your Parents Teach You Wisdom

4 Listen, you sons, to a father’s discipline.
Pay attention so that you will gain discernment,
2 because I have given you good instruction.
Do not abandon my teaching.
3 When I was a son living with my father,
a tender and only child with my mother,
4 he used to instruct me and say to me,
“Cling to my words with all your heart.
Obey my commands so that you may live.
5 Acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding.
Do not forget,
and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon it, and it will watch over you.
Love it and it will guard you.”

7 The beginning of wisdom is to obtain Wisdom.
Give up everything you have, in order to gain Understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you.
She will honor you when you embrace her.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head.
She will present you with a beautiful crown.

Fifth Address to a Son:
The Difference Between the Wicked and the Righteous

10 Listen, my son, and accept my words,
so that the years of your life will be many.
11 I have instructed you in the way of wisdom.
I have led you along straight paths.[a]
12 When you walk, your stride will not be hindered.
Even if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to discipline. Do not let go.
Guard it, because it is your life.
14 Do not travel on the path of the wicked.
Do not walk in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it! Do not travel on it!
Turn away from it. Pass it by.
16 For they cannot sleep
unless they have been doing wrong,
and they are robbed of sleep
unless they are making someone stumble,
17 because wickedness is the food they eat,
and violence is the wine they drink.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until it is day.
19 The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness.
They never know where they will stumble.

Sixth Address to a Son:
Advice for a Righteous Life

20 My son, pay attention to my words.
Open your ears to what I say.
21 Do not let them escape from your sight.
Keep them deep in your heart,
22 because they are life for those who find them
and healing for the entire body.[b]
23 Above all else, guard your heart carefully,
because your life flows from it.
24 Turn your mouth away from perverted speech,
and keep devious lips far away from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Let your gaze[c] be directly in front of you.
26 Make a level pathway for your feet,
and all your ways will be secure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left.
Turn your feet away from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:11 Or on the right track
  2. Proverbs 4:22 Literally all of his flesh
  3. Proverbs 4:25 Literally your eyelids

You Might Also Like:

Proverbs 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding. 2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. 3 For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother. 4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Sons, hear ye the teaching of your father; and perceive ye (and understand ye), (so) that ye know prudence. 2 I shall give to you a good gift; forsake ye not my law. (I give you a good gift; do not ye abandon my instructions.) 3 For why and I was the son of my father, a tender son, and one begotte...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandmen...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

It’s perfectly natural to envy those who are successful. It’s even natural to want to imitate them. But what about those who’ve gotten ahead by doing the wrong thing? Sometimes it seems crime does pay, the good do die young, and the wicked do have more fun. But it only appears this way; it is not re...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

A Father’s Lesson: Get Wisdom!4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction.Pay attention, to gain understanding.2 For I give you sound learning—do not forsake my instruction.3 When I was a son to my father,tender and special to my mother,4 he taught me and said to me: “Lay hold of my words in your h...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Fatherly Advice4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight;2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,4 he taught me, and said to me,“Let your heart hold fast m...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Fatherly Advice4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight;2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,4 he taught me, and said to me,“Let your heart hold fast m...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Parental Advice4 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight;2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender, and my mother’s favourite,4 he taught me, and said to me,‘Let your heart hold fast my wor...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Parental Advice4 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender and my mother’s favorite,(B)4 he taught me and said to me,“Let your heart hold fast my ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

A Father’s Wise Advice4 My children,[a] listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,2 for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.3 For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. 4 My father taught me,“Take ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

A Father’s Teaching4 O sons, hear the teaching of a father. Listen so you may get understanding. 2 For I give you good teaching. Do not turn away from it. 3 When I was a much loved and only son of my mother and father, 4 he taught me, saying, “Hold my words close to your heart. Keep my teachings ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Security in Wisdom4 Hear, (A)my children, the instruction of a father,And give attention to know understanding;2 For I give you good doctrine:Do not forsake my law.3 When I was my father’s son,(B)Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,4 (C)He also taught me, and said to me:“Let your heart...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Get wisdom at any cost4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.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 of my wo...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Get Wisdom at Any Cost4 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...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Get Wisdom at Any Cost4 My sons, listen to a father’s teaching. Pay attention and gain understanding.2 I give you good advice. So don’t turn away from what I teach you.3 I, too, was once a young boy in my father’s house. And my mother loved me deeply.4 Then my father taught me. He said to me, “Take ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New English Translation (NET)

Admonition to Follow Righteousness and Avoid Wickedness[a]4 Listen, children,[b] to a father’s instruction,[c]and pay attention so that you may gain[d] discernment.2 Because I hereby give[e] you good instruction,do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a son to my father,[f]a tender, only child[g] ...
Read More