Proverbs 4
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New International VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.1Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,
2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.2For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.
3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.3When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4Then he taught me, and he said to me, "Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.4Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;
5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.6"Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.
7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.7"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.8"Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.
9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown."9"She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty."
10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.10Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many.
11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.11I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.13Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.14Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.15Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.17For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;21Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body.22For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.
23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.23Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.24Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.26Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.27Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.
New International Version (NIV)

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New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org
Proverbs 3
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