Proverbs 4 - The Message (MSG)

Your Life Is at Stake

4 1-2 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice;
sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live.
I’m giving you good counsel;
don’t let it go in one ear and out the other.

3-9 When I was a boy at my father’s knee,
the pride and joy of my mother,
He would sit me down and drill me:
“Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!
Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;
love her—she keeps her eye on you.
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;
never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
She’ll garland your life with grace,
she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”

10-15 Dear friend, take my advice;
it will add years to your life.
I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way,
I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys,
or wasting time making wrong turns.
Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.
Guard it well—your life is at stake!
Don’t take Wicked Bypass;
don’t so much as set foot on that road.
Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.
Make a detour and be on your way.

16-17 Evil people are restless
unless they’re making trouble;
They can’t get a good night’s sleep
unless they’ve made life miserable for somebody.
Perversity is their food and drink,
violence their drug of choice.

18-19 The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.

Learn It by Heart

20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words;
tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they’re bursting with health.

23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.

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Proverbs 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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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...
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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...
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Proverbs 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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] ...
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