Proverbs 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Security in Wisdom

4 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 retain my words;
(D)Keep my commands, and live.
5 (E)Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
(F)Love her, and she will keep you.
7 (G)Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 (H)Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head (I)an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
(J)And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have (K)taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, (L)your steps will not be hindered,
(M)And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.

14 (N)Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 (O)For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is [a]taken away unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.

18 (P)But the path of the just (Q)is like the shining [b]sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 (R)The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of (S)life.
24 Put away from you a [c]deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your (T)feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:16 Lit. robbed
  2. Proverbs 4:18 Lit. light
  3. Proverbs 4:24 devious

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 4:1 : Ps. 34:11; Prov. 1:8
  2. Proverbs 4:3 : 1 Chr. 29:1
  3. Proverbs 4:4 : 1 Chr. 28:9; Eph. 6:4
  4. Proverbs 4:4 : Prov. 7:2
  5. Proverbs 4:5 : Prov. 2:2, 3
  6. Proverbs 4:6 : 2 Thess. 2:10
  7. Proverbs 4:7 : Prov. 3:13, 14; Matt. 13:44
  8. Proverbs 4:8 : 1 Sam. 2:30
  9. Proverbs 4:9 : Prov. 3:22
  10. Proverbs 4:10 : Prov. 3:2
  11. Proverbs 4:11 : 1 Sam. 12:23
  12. Proverbs 4:12 : Job 18:7; Ps. 18:36
  13. Proverbs 4:12 : [Ps. 91:11]; Prov. 3:23
  14. Proverbs 4:14 : Ps. 1:1; Prov. 1:15
  15. Proverbs 4:16 : Ps. 36:4; Mic. 2:1
  16. Proverbs 4:18 : Is. 26:7; Matt. 5:14, 45; Phil. 2:15
  17. Proverbs 4:18 : 2 Sam. 23:4
  18. Proverbs 4:19 : 1 Sam. 2:9; [Job 18:5, 6]; Prov. 2:13; [Is. 59:9, 10; Jer. 23:12]; John 12:35
  19. Proverbs 4:23 : [Matt. 12:34; 15:18, 19; Mark 7:21; Luke 6:45]
  20. Proverbs 4:26 : Prov. 5:21; Heb. 12:13

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